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Pennsylvania Legislative Reception
Members of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) were on the ground in Harrisburg earlier this month for the annual Pennsylvania Legislative Reception hosted in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.
One of the three signature receptions that the GPCC hosts each year, the reception recognizes the work of our many committed public and private sector partners to improve the economy and quality of life in the Pittsburgh region and across the state.
This year’s reception was preceded by a joint public policy seminar featuring discussions with Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai, Governor Wolf's Chief of Staff Mike Brunelle and others.
As always, we thank our event co-sponsors and corporate partners. Without their support these events would not be possible.
If you’re interested in viewing a gallery of photos from the event, please click here.
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Critical NAP Tax Credit Bill Advances in PA House
We received great news earlier this month related to our efforts to expand the cap on the critical Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) state tax credit. HB 646, which raises the NAP cap from $18 million to $36 million, passed in the Pennsylvania House Finance Committee by a bipartisan vote. The expansion of the NAP tax credit is a major priority of the GPCC and Allegheny Conference.
The NAP tax credit program revitalizes communities by providing long-term, sustainable support for locally-based organizations working to improve the economic vitality of low-income neighborhoods across the state. The Allegheny Conference, through its Strengthening Communities Partnership program, has facilitated partnerships between the business community and seven community development corporations across Allegheny, Washington and Fayette counties to help drive revitalization in these communities.
The NAP tax credit was created in 1971. However, the current $18 million cap has never been lifted. In recent years, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development has received at times more than $50 million in requests (and matching corporate commitments of funding) but had to reject more than half of those applicants.
It’s not just the GPCC and Allegheny Conference that is advocating to expand the NAP program. Nearly 50 businesses and organizations from all across the state have come together to form the NAP Coalition with the goal of increasing the cap on the tax credit from $18 million to $36 million. A list of coalition members and more information on the coalition and the tax credit can be found here.
Be sure to watch Our Region’s Business on Sunday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m. on WPXI. The program will feature Senators Wayne Fontana and Guy Reschenthaler, who have introduced companion legislation in the PA Senate to raise the cap on the NAP tax credit.
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GPCC President Matt Smith Testifies on Importance of Manufacturing in Pittsburgh Region
Earlier this week, GPCC president Matt Smith testified on the importance of reliable and affordable energy for manufacturing competitiveness in the Pittsburgh region at a Pennsylvania Senate Manufacturing Caucus hearing held at the United States Steel Mon Valley Works Training Center in Duquesne.
We thank Senators Kim Ward and Jim Brewster, co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Senate Manufacturing Caucus, for the opportunity to testify on these issues of critical importance to our regional economy. And we thank United States Steel Corporation for hosting the hearing at their state of the art Mon Valley Works Training Center.
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May First Friday with Jeff Lungren, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Our May First Friday event featured Jeff Lungren, chief health care and immigration lobbyist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Jeff led a discussion on the current state of play on health care and immigration policy and priorities.
To view photos from the event, click here.
Senator Joe Scarnati Featured Presenter at June First Friday
Join us for our June First Friday event featuring Senator Joe Scarnati, PA Senate President Pro Temper, who will provide a state policy update.
Senator Scarnati has been a tremendous leader on many of our priorities including state pension reform and creating an environment where state government can work more effectively to help job creators.
The event will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 at the 11 Stanwix Street auditorium. Networking and a continental breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m., with the program from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Please RSVP your attendance to Diane Hughley.
Our First Friday series, presented by Comcast Business, brings together the region's private sector and public affairs community to engage with elected and other public officials on issues that are important to the region's economy and quality of life.
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GPCC Advocates for Federal Research Funding in Washington, D.C.
Recently, members of the GPCC visited the nation’s capital as part of the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition. We advocated for robust support for research accounts in the 2017 spending bill and in the coming 2018 budget and spending bills.
The coalition, with nearly 70 member chambers from across the nation, is bringing increased focus to the importance of federal research funding – from healthcare to energy – to the long-term prospects of our region’s and nation’s economies. We are joining with research institutions and innovators to say business supports and recognizes the importance of research and the economic benefits it brings.
In the recent omnibus bill, we received some big wins as congressional leaders joined in bipartisan support for this investment. In fact, the National Institutes of Health received an additional $2 billion in research funding and the National Energy Technology Laboratory received a $36 million increase.
However, we have a lot of work to do in 2018 and beyond to continue making the case that even in difficult budget times, federal research funding that returns such a significant investment must remain a priority. Indeed, growing our economy is an essential ingredient to placing the country and our Commonwealth on a stronger financial foundation.
The GPCC stands ready to work with our member companies, congressional delegations and research institutions to fight any cuts to these critical research accounts.
To learn more, view the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition letter of support that the GPCC signed here.
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CompetePA Coalition Advocates in Harrisburg for Business Tax Competitiveness
Last month, the CompetePA Coalition held a series of meetings in Harrisburg to advocate for more competitive business tax policies. Ten coalition members met with legislative leadership in both the House and the Senate, and with the PA Department of Revenue’s Acting Secretary to discuss our top issue of raising the cap on the Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carryforward and to discuss the coalition’s opposition to combined reporting.
Formed in 2005, the state-wide CompetePA coalition represents more than half the private sector employment in Pennsylvania. The coalition works to see that Pennsylvania is able to compete successfully for new jobs and investment.
Learn more here.
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Coalition for Sustainable Communities Keeps Municipal Fiscal Reform Top of Mind in Harrisburg
Dozens of chambers of commerce and local government officials from across the state, all members of the Coalition for Sustainable Communities (CSC), were in Harrisburg last month. They were on the ground to meet with legislators to remind them that municipal pension reform and binding arbitration reform remain a priority for the business community and local governments across Pennsylvania.
The CSC is a growing alliance of chambers of commerce, local government associations and other business, community and municipal leaders all committed to helping Pennsylvania’s rural, suburban and urban communities address growing economic and financial challenges.
Learn more here.
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