Programs

Chesterfield Business Council Issues

KEY ISSUES

The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber Supports Chesterfield County's Agreement with SportsQuest > read official release

• The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber Announces its Support of a Revenue-Neutral Property Tax Rate Increase :: read official release

CHESTERFIELD LEADERS TO CONSIDER TAX-RATE ADJUSTMENT :: read article

• Support for Expanded Technical Education :: The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber encourages and supports the Chesterfield County School Board and administration in its efforts to consider options to expand opportunities for technical education in the county. The Chesterfield Business Council is a strong proponent of your Career and Technical Education program. We recognize that in this day and age, and especially in this economy, our young adults need to graduate with a career plan in mind. Some graduates will go directly on to a four year college, some will attend a community college, and some will directly enter the work force, but all will need to be prepared for their endeavors.

We feel an expansion of technical training is necessary for the following reasons:

It will help more students to live productively after graduating from high school.
It will allow more students to be exposed to technical classes and create more opportunities for certification.
It will enable the Technical Center to offer new courses, identified through market surveys, which will increase workforce skills and enhance service delivery to the county (fire/EMT, etc.). If Chesterfield County is to grow and prosper we will have to expand our commercial real estate tax base. One of the key determinants in attracting businesses to a location is the availability of a skilled workforce. The Tech Center helps to fulfill this need; however, today many students are turned away because of the lack of facilities. The Chesterfield Business Council feels that economic development should be one of the County’s main priorities if we are to continue to provide our citizens with the best schools.
It will allow more flexibility in delivery times and methods.

We sincerely hope the business community will be offered the opportunity to discuss issues such as workforce development, internships/partnerships and entrepreneurial studies before any final decision is made. We look forward to learning more as you develop the concept of the “21st Century Career Academy”. Hopefully, by working together, we can make Chesterfield County a better place to live and work.

• Understanding the School Budget :: The Greater Richmond Chamber's Chesterfield Business Council has an education committee that has been working diligently to find ways for all concerned parties to better understand the school budget process. To further that understanding, we have sent the attached letter to Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marcus Newsome with some suggestions which we feel will bring more transparency to the current budget process. Read the letter here.

• Education :: The CBC recognizes the important link between quality childhood development and economic vitality. To learn more about how your business can differentiate itself and become involved in student success, contact Danna Geisler, CBC Program Manager.

• The CBS's education committee met with Chesterfield County School Superintendent Dr. Marcus Newsome and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kathy Kitchen to discuss how decisions are made regarding construction planning at the design and subsequent construction phases.

• The CBC of the Greater Richmond Chamber sent a letter the Board of Supervisors, the School Board, and the County Administrator requesting continued support of k-12 education programs and encouraging cooperation as they consider the allocations for this biennium budget. Read letter here.

• Crime & Public Safety: The CBC supports the county’s Police Department in their efforts to provide a safe business environment and an enhanced quality of life for all Chesterfield residents.

Policy Positions:

• Support of the Midlothian Initiative to Revitalize Rights of Way :: The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber supports the efforts of the Midlothian Initiative to Revitalize Rights of Way (MIRR), a subcommittee of the Greater Southport Business Association, for their plan to improve, beautify and revitalize the roadways, medians and rights of way in the Huguenot/Courthouse/Midlothian area through a $.02 special tax assessment of the area property owners. We appreciate the thoughtful outreach efforts of the county and MIRR to communicate with and educate local businesses on the benefits of this enhancement. While we feel that the state and VDOT should fulfill its obligations to properly maintain medians in Chesterfield County, we applaud MIRR for proactively seeking solutions to keep the Midlothian corridor attractive and thus creating a positive image for existing business and future business investment.

• Temporary Reduction on Commercial and Industrial Rezoning and Site Plan Fees :: The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber strongly supports the concept of the proposed temporary reduction on Commercial and Industrial Rezoning and Site Plan Fees. Given the current economy, this savings sends a clear message that the county is supportive of new business development and expansion. We applaud the supervisors for considering this action. We also respectfully suggest that County leaders review the entire process by which development licensing and inspection can be improved and streamlined. Significant changes are needed to make economic development an easier and more cost effective process, and addressing the current challenges will have considerable long-term effects that will surpass any economic climate.

• Federal Lobbyist :: The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber encourages the county to consider the benefits of utilizing a federal lobbyist. As Virginia is facing budget shortfalls, it is apparent that the counties and cities in Virginia will not get the financial support they need from the Commonwealth. Our Council believes that Chesterfield County would benefit from having a federal lobbyist, familiar and experienced with the decision makers in Washington DC, working on our community’s behalf to advocate for our citizens and work with our federal delegation to ensure that Chesterfield County is considered and receives any federal monies for which it is eligible > read full letter

• Zip Code Changes :: The Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber supports Chesterfield County’s efforts to re-align zip codes in order to maximize sales tax revenue for the county. Allowing businesses & residents the flexibility to maintain the Richmond name, should they choose to do so, will be an important option. Many of our members conduct business in other states and countries and the Richmond regional identity is very important to their success.

• Central Virginia Transportation Authority :: The Chesterfield Business Council supports the formation of a Central Virginia Transportation Authority. The business community recognizes the value in having a regional body with the ability to fund transportation projects for our region independent of the Commonwealth’s budget, where local government can identify and prioritize projects. Given the state budget shortfall and expected downward revenue projections at all government levels, it is highly unlikely the Commonwealth will devote new transportation dollars to projects in Central Virginia in the near future or that the county alone can supply the funding need to match projected transportation needs

• GRTC Recognition :: The Chesterfield Business Council congratulates GRTC Transit System for being recognized by the American Public Transportation Association as the best of its size (4 million to 30 million rides annually) in the country. The business community recognizes the great service that GRTC provides to our community, and encourages Chesterfield County leadership to be supportive of initiatives that will enhance public transit and expand our system to be progressive and efficient, especially into underserved areas of our county

• Swift Creek Reservoir/Phosphorus Limitations :: The Chesterfield Business Council is concerned about the proposed ordinance to lower the total phosphorus runoff limits from properties within the Upper Swift Creek Watershed to 0.16 pounds of phosphorus per acre per year

• Roseland Support :: The Chesterfield Business Council is excited about the possibility of rezoning approximately 1400 acres in Chesterfield County, known as Roseland, to permit the development of a mixed-use community incorporating the concepts of new urbanism

• Long Term Planning :: The Chesterfield Business Council supports the County’s resolution approving a regional water supply plan

• BPOL/Meadowville Funding :: The Chesterfield Business Council supports using the County’s Business, Professional and Occupational Licensing tax (BPOL) revenue above the amount of the current cap to fund the debt service on the bonds or other debt required to build the Meadowville interchange. The CBC believes that this BPOL initiative should be only one, small part of a broad-based effort by state and local government to address the transportation needs of Chesterfield County

• Comprehensive Plan :: The Chesterfield Business Council strongly supports Chesterfield County's proposal to award and outside consulting contract to develop a true county-wide comprehensive/master plan based on a strategic vision for the County's overall future. The CBC believes this position supports our mission to provide local leadership in promoting the objectives of the Chamber and fostering a favorable business environment and an enhanced quality of life in Chesterfield County