1 of 4
The Chamber ALX’s Chair Stephanie Beyer Kirby addresses the crowd during the event program.
2 of 4
L-R: Virginia State Senator George Barker, Mayor Justin Wilson, Former Mayor Allison Silberberg.
3 of 4
Brooke Sydnor Curran connects with City Council candidate Alyia Gaskins.
4 of 4
Board Member and presenting sponsor, David Baker of Virginia Tech addresses the audience.
As Alexandria starts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the voice of business in Alexandria is taking new positions in its Legislative Agenda.
The Chamber ALX, Alexandria's Chamber of Commerce, released its 2022 Legislative Agenda this month. In it, the organization's leaders call on Alexandria officials to to move forward faster on infrastructure projects and programs that can help improve the local economy. The document is written by the Chamber's Government Relations Committee, which includes business owners, and approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
"We need a commitment to nimble government, capable of responding to rapidly shifting forces that impact the livelihood of Alexandria and the Commonwealth. The Chamber believes it is well suited to articulate the experiences of our diverse businesses to inform our policymakers and when appropriate, challenge our leaders to seek innovative solutions to move Alexandria forward," according to the organization.
The Legislative Agenda includes strong encouragement for city officials to review the changes the city has made to zoning and other requirements to assess their effectiveness. This includes discussing when the pedestrian mall on the 100 block of King Street, outdoor seating allowances, cocktails to-go and group uses of public parks.
A second key point in the legislative agenda is Alexandria's crumbling infrastructure. The Chamber of Commerce is encouraging city officials to use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to prioritize long-overdue infrastructure projects, including projects that would mitigate flooding and help traffic flow better.
In addition, for the first time, as part of the Chamber's commitment to rebuilding Alexandria's economy, the organization is looking at the role the school system plays in helping residents get back to work.
"The Chamber encourages the Alexandria City Public Schools to evaluate their communication methods from the past year. The adoption of a detailed, effective communications strategy, that is clear and concise is imperative to providing valuable information to parents and their employers. School operations have a clear link to our city’s workforce and operational changes to the school day/calendar should be provided with as much advance notice as is practical given the external pressures facing ACPS," the organization's leaders wrote.
At the state level, the Chamber ALX will advocate for better, stronger and more reliable broadband service for all residents, more affordable housing and the continuation of direct-to-business grants.
In addition, the Chamber hopes that electronic meetings will become the norm, as they have enabled more diverse participation in local government.
"Over the last decade we have been an outspoken voice for the completion of Potomac Yard metro, redevelopment of Landmark Mall, streamlining small business regulations and a champion of countless issues directly impacting the business community. We are proud to be entrusted with amplifying the voice of the diverse businesses in our city," according to the Chamber ALX's introduction to their Legislative Agenda for 2022.
