The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce works to persistently communicate Chamber positions to policymakers, employers, employees, and residents to ensure factual information and aspirations for shared prosperity is understood.
The Chamber has identified the following policy priorities for Greater Portland. We focus much of our advocacy efforts on these priority issues, but also work on additional local, state, and federal policy issues impacting our members.
The Chamber has identified the following policy priorities for Greater Portland. We focus much of our advocacy efforts on these priority issues, but also work on additional local, state, and federal policy issues impacting our members.
Public Transit
The Chamber supports policies that explore and expand transportation and transit options for the Portland metro region and encourage growth, minimize congestion, and minimize adverse environmental impacts. We also work to foster collaboration among all communities and entities to ensure efficiencies. We believe a safe, reliable, thoughtfully planned system will allow our communities and businesses in the region to grow and prosper.
The Chamber supports policies that explore and expand transportation and transit options for the Portland metro region and encourage growth, minimize congestion, and minimize adverse environmental impacts. We also work to foster collaboration among all communities and entities to ensure efficiencies. We believe a safe, reliable, thoughtfully planned system will allow our communities and businesses in the region to grow and prosper.
**Survey** PACTS Transit Tomorrow Report
Great Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) recently released a draft of their Transit Tomorrow plan. This plan lays out an ambitious 30-year strategic plan for public transportation priorities in the Greater Portland area.
This plan includes strategies to enhance access to transit, increase the frequency of public transit, improve rapid transit options in the area, and implement land-use policies that encourage increased density along priority transit corridors to increase the use of public transit.
GPCOC and PACTS are currently accepting public feedback on this draft plan until February 5, 2021.
Read the plan HERE. Background materials on the project scope and additional appendices can be found HERE.
TAKE THE SURVEY HERE
This plan includes strategies to enhance access to transit, increase the frequency of public transit, improve rapid transit options in the area, and implement land-use policies that encourage increased density along priority transit corridors to increase the use of public transit.
GPCOC and PACTS are currently accepting public feedback on this draft plan until February 5, 2021.
Read the plan HERE. Background materials on the project scope and additional appendices can be found HERE.
TAKE THE SURVEY HERE
Workforce Attraction & Development
In accordance with the Maine State Strategic Economic Development Plan and its focus on talent and innovation, the Portland Regional Chamber seeks to encourage policies that attract workers and respond to the needs of the employer community. This is done through promotion of policies that ensure our education system provides appropriate programming to meet the needs of our employer community; remove barriers for stable employment (opioids, homelessness); and encourage and welcome continued growth of our immigrant community to replenish our workforce and help them find appropriate job and educational opportunities that lead to economic security and career fulfillment.
In accordance with the Maine State Strategic Economic Development Plan and its focus on talent and innovation, the Portland Regional Chamber seeks to encourage policies that attract workers and respond to the needs of the employer community. This is done through promotion of policies that ensure our education system provides appropriate programming to meet the needs of our employer community; remove barriers for stable employment (opioids, homelessness); and encourage and welcome continued growth of our immigrant community to replenish our workforce and help them find appropriate job and educational opportunities that lead to economic security and career fulfillment.
Affordable Housing
Greater Portland needs more housing available at an affordable rate for those who desire to live in the cities and towns we call home. The Chamber is working to promote solutions for safe and affordable housing for all income levels to attract and retain a talented work force. We encourage municipalities to explore land use and tax policies as well as regional rezoning to increase housing production and decrease the cost of workforce housing. We continue to advocate for increased discounts on municipal fees (e.g. building permits, impact fees) for projects that include a significant percentage of affordable housing.
Greater Portland needs more housing available at an affordable rate for those who desire to live in the cities and towns we call home. The Chamber is working to promote solutions for safe and affordable housing for all income levels to attract and retain a talented work force. We encourage municipalities to explore land use and tax policies as well as regional rezoning to increase housing production and decrease the cost of workforce housing. We continue to advocate for increased discounts on municipal fees (e.g. building permits, impact fees) for projects that include a significant percentage of affordable housing.
