If people do not know much about a chamber of commerce or our members, they often think that we’re a homogenous group of businesses, generally “big business,” who think alike, and want the same things – primarily low taxes and other policies that drive impact to the bottom line.

The reality is that if you look at nearly every chamber in the country, you’ll find a diverse group of businesses of all sizes united by common goals to help each other’s businesses and their communities grow.

That is certainly true for our Overland Park Chamber where our membership fabric is woven with solopreneurs, small- and mid-sized businesses, and global headquarters employing thousands. While these companies have policy issues unique to their industries which can drive or impede their success, business owners and leaders we talk with are united in two ways:

• Quality of life is critical to the ability to attract and retain talent, and
• They require certainty.

The change in administration at the federal level is creating uncertainty due to the rapid rate and scope of announcements. We’re working with elected officials, industry partners and stakeholders to curate resources for you, and hope you’ll share your thoughts with us.
One of our key partners is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Over the weekend, CEO Suzanne Clark shared this memo from her team regarding the Executive Orders imposing new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China: Memo: State of Play.

Our policy team led by Kevin Walker, Executive Vice President/Chief Policy Officer, is plugged in at the local, state and federal levels to provide you with the connections and information you need to make informed decisions about your business. This year the Kansas Legislature has signaled its intent to move quickly through its business with a more expedited calendar than in previous sessions. At the conclusion of each week, Kevin’s “This Week in Topeka” summarizes legislative activity on relevant business issues so you can stay up to date. If you’re not subscribed, email us at hmelton@opchamber.org to join.

Because information is power, we’re adding an exciting new business intelligence platform, SizeUp, to inform small business planning and decision-making, and also help large businesses better serve their small business customers. It’s hyper-local with Johnson County benchmarking and industry data visualization. Best of all, it’s free! Learn more at our Valentine’s Day kick-off – register here.

At the Chamber we take our role as a resource and connector seriously. Let us know how we can help you and your business grow.