Unshackle Upstate and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce: What Business Needs to Succeed
November 15th, 2019
What Business Needs to Succeed
Press & Sun Bulletin, November 10, 2019
Unshackle Upstate and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce share a common vision of Upstate New York being a vibrant place of economic prosperity. As organizations that advocate on behalf of our region’s businesses, it is important that we can set our priorities in line with what our memberships believe are key concerns to improving our business climate.
The results of Unshackle’s Business Climate Survey and the Greater Binghamton Chamber’s annual legislative survey told a story about what the business community needs to succeed and what plagues the growth of Upstate communities.
Not surprisingly, the general feeling about the fiscal wellbeing of Upstate New York is not good. An overwhelming majority of respondents to Unshackle Upstate’s survey believed the business climate got worse over the past year. An even greater number reported that they knew someone who has left New York to find new economic opportunities elsewhere. Respondents cited taxes, spending and new employer mandates as the leading concerns impacting our business climate. These types of responses send the wrong signal as we seek to attract new economic investment in Upstate New York.
Here in the Southern Tier, the cost of energy remains a high concern. Members of the Greater Binghamton Chamber stressed an inability to absorb increased energy costs or that their businesses would be strained by potential cost increases. As New York State implements the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, ratepayers are bracing for future cost increases.
In addition to higher energy costs, high taxes contribute to New York’s harsh business climate and our organizations’ memberships are interested where their tax dollars go. Over 70 percent of respondents said they do not support publicly financed campaigns. We remain strongly opposed to using taxpayer dollars to fill politicians campaign coffers, and instead encourage Albany to direct those dollars to address our crumbling infrastructure, investing in workforce training or simply easing the burden for all tax strapped New Yorkers.
Our organizations are eager to fight on behalf the Southern Tier and Upstate New York. Part of our advocacy efforts this year will include support for the creation of an Upstate Legislative Caucus that would meet regularly to discuss issues important to our region. This effort received universal support from Unshackle Upstate’s survey respondents; demonstrating real interest in a strong Upstate voice in Albany.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber and Unshackle Upstate will continue to take this feedback in to account as we draft our legislative priorities. Issues like stopping a prevailing wage expansion, opposing single-payer health coverage and ensuring the needs of business is heard loud and clear will no doubt lead our agendas in 2020.
In the face of significant challenges in Albany, our organizations are proud to work together to fight to make the Southern Tier and all of Upstate a more affordable place to live and a better place to do business.
Kyle Davis is the Government Relations and Public Policy Specialist with the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. Michael Kracker is the executive director of Unshackle Upstate.