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- Continue efforts to enhance the level of partnership between the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and elected state officials and staff.
- Strengthen the partnership with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other state advocacy partners to advance economic development in St. Johns County.
- Analyze proposed legislative changes to the Florida tax code to determine the effects on St. Johns County businesses. After thorough review, make recommendations to our constituent legislators, where appropriate. Generally, support measures that make Florida more competitive in comparison to other states.
- Support legislation eliminating Florida’s sales tax on commercial rents.
- Support continued reductions in the State corporate income tax.
- Support legislative initiatives aimed at reducing the regulatory barriers impacting new business start-ups.
- Support prioritization of Economic Development programs and funding of initiatives aimed at helping existing businesses expand and to attract new businesses to Florida.
- Support initiatives aimed at streamlining Florida’s regulatory environment.
- Support ongoing efforts to reform Florida’s land development codes that allow Florida property owners and businesses to maximize business expansion and land development opportunities, including, but not limited to, legislation that may impact waterfront property.
- Support legislation related to the protection of intellectual property rights and Florida’s ability to recruit and retain knowledge-based businesses.
- Support Economic Development legislation aimed at improving transportation infrastructure and freight mobility.
- Support meaningful legal reform efforts that enhance the competitiveness of Florida’s business environment. While maintaining adequate protection for its citizens, the State should consider reforming Florida’s legal climate. Reforms to consider should include, among others: tort liability, workers compensation, Personal Injury Protection and the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
- Support State funding for St. Johns County-based transportation and infrastructure projects, specifically: SR 313 (including consideration of a northern extension of SR 313) and the development of the regional outer beltway.
- Support funding for ongoing maintenance and repair of St. Johns County’s state roads and infrastructure.
- Support prioritization and full funding to support “Visit Florida” and the promotion of Northeast Florida’s tourism industries.
- Monitor and oppose legislative or regulatory efforts to divert local tourist tax revenues away from localities or to fund other non-tourism related purposes.
- Support St. Johns County-based grant applications relative to capital investment in historic preservation.
- Support legislative initiatives to aid the profitability and expansion of manufacturers in Florida.
- Support legislative initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of purchasing equipment used in manufacturing.
- Support state legislative efforts to address the impacts of federal EPA policy-making which unfairly target Florida property owners.
- Support legislative efforts to enhance the level of partnership between our state agricultural sector and K-12 school meal providers.
- Support the funding of Workforce Education & Training programs that would serve St. Johns County businesses and citizens.
- Support the development and use of a formula in the distribution of state PECO dollars that takes into consideration the needs of growing districts.
- Support the continued full funding of the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Funds and continue to oppose any attempt by the state legislature to “sweep” funds into other non-related funding categories.
- Support efforts by the state legislature to give counties and municipalities more authority to ease zoning restrictions to allow additional affordable workforce housing to be constructed.
- Support additional appropriations and grants to counties and municipalities to assist them in developing affordable workforce housing.