Regional Policy Committee (RPC)

The Regional Policy Committee is focused on analyzing public policy at the regional and local levels, which are important to the Chamber and the business community and making recommendations on those policies. The Committee’s caseload includes One Region Economic Recovery & Resiliency Roadmap, transportation and infrastructure, attainable housing, economic development and development processes.

If you are interested in joining the Regional Policy Committee, please email Diamond Curry at dcurry@charlestonchamber.org.

Business Advocacy Committee (BAC)

Bailey Vincett, your Chamber’s lobbyist, is working at the State House every day of the Legislative Session to ensure the priority issues on the State Legislative Agenda get advanced. The BAC sets the legislative and executive priorities for the state and federal agendas and recommends policy positions to the Chamber’s Board and Executive Committee. The BAC also reviews significant regional and local policy recommendations from the Regional Policy Committee.

If you are interested in suggesting issues or bills for consideration by the BAC for the 2024 State Legislative Agenda, please email Bailey Vincett at bvincett@charlestonchamber.org

Political Action Committee (PAC)

The PAC was established on September 15, 2000 and is a separate organization governed by the PAC board. The PAC oversees the endorsement and campaign contribution process for state and local candidates in the Tri-County and engages in fundraising to support the PAC’s activities. The PAC does not get involved with federal elections.

Any Chamber member can serve on the PAC interview teams. The interview teams are responsible for vetting and scoring candidates based on their alignment with the Chamber’s key policy priorities. This year’s PAC interviews will take place in September. If you are interested in serving on the PAC interview teams, please email Diamond Curry at dcurry@charlestonchamber.org.

Regional Housing Coalition (RHC)

The fourth member of the Government Relations team, Craig Logan, serves as the Housing Executive Fellow and leads the Regional Housing Coalition. The Regional Housing Coalition is the first of its kind in the area, forming connections within the Tri-county to build a regional effort for attainable housing. The Coalition will be open to all who share interests in creating solutions for the housing crisis in our region. The mission of the Regional Housing Coalition is to be a convener of community members, governments, for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations to unify the region’s efforts to provide attainable housing to all people, regardless of neighborhood or individual characteristics.

The inaugural meeting for the Coalition will be held next month. If you are interested in learning more about the Coalition and how you can be a part of this great group of individuals, please email Craig at clogan@charlestonchamber.org.

Champion Advocates

Our four-member team is constantly looking for ways to amplify the business community’s voice and advance our policy priorities. Coming soon, “Champion Advocates” will leverage our volunteer leaders’ existing relationships with elected officials to create a grassroots lobbying arm of our team. Don’t have any relationships with elected officials? No problem, we will train you and offer opportunities through our ACCESS events to make those connections with your elected officials.

Mobilization includes engagement on social media, with personal networks and occasionally in front of elected councils to share facts about the region’s progress and reinforce the need for smart policies and planning to accommodate our future growth.

If you are interested in learning more about Champion Advocates, please email Bailey at bvincett@charlestonchamber.org.