LANCASTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

IN 2023 THE CHAMBER ENGAGED ITS WORK ON 3 KEY PRIORITIES.1) PUBLIC POLICY: THE CHAMBER INFORMS AND ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS WHICH SUPPORT BUSINESS, PEOPLE, AND PLACES.- 22 ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, A VOLUNTEER GROUP MADE UP OF BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, MET FOR OVER 330 HOURS TO DISCUSS POLICY AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES THAT HELPED THE CHAMBER DEVELOP 3 POSITION STATEMENTS, SIGN 11 LETTERS OF SUPPORT, DRAFT 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND ADVOCATED FOR MULTIPLE BILLS THAT PASSED INTO LAW, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS INTO CHILDCARE, CLEAN SLATE EXPANSION, FUNDING FOR K-12 SCHOOLS, AND PERMITTING REFORM.- BETWEEN OUR STAFF INTERACTIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AT EVENTS, THE LANCASTER CHAMBER REPRESENTED BUSINESS IN 83 HOURS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.- 110 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS LEARNED ABOUT AND GATHERED RESOURCES ON HIRING JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AS A SEGMENT OF OUR WORKFORCE PIPELINE.2) BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: THE CHAMBER ANALYZES, ASSESSES, AND NAVIGATES TO PROVIDE TIMELY RESOURCES AND FORWARD-FOCUSED SOLUTIONS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.- FROM UPSKILLING OUR INCUMBENT WORKFORCE TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, 2,956 EMPLOYEES OF MEMBER BUSINESSES SPENT 226.5 HOURS IN LEARNING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.- 3,055 MEMBERS SPENT A COMBINED 83 HOURS OF NETWORKING AND BUILDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AT OUR OVER 40 NETWORKING SPECIFIC EVENTS- NEW MANAGER ACADEMY, OUR LONG-TIME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, GRADUATED ITS 500TH MANAGER IN 20233) DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: THE CHAMBER CONTRIBUTED TO A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE WORKPLACE, WORKFORCE, AND COMMUNITY.- 1,098 PEOPLE GATHERED, REPRESENTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF ETHNIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS AT 20 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS LIKE OUR HISPANIC BUSINESS LUNCH, WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAMMING AND BIPOC NETWORKING.- 15 MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS SERVED AS COHORT MEMBERS IN THE UNDERREPRESENTED BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 2022- OF THE 157 SPEAKERS PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE LANCASTER CHAMBER, 85 WERE WOMEN AND 22% REPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS.