Blackstone
Chamber of  Commerce
Directions

P.O. Box 295
Blackstone, VA 23824

434-292-1677 chamber@blackstoneva.com

Find a Blackstone Chamber Member

 


Yearly Legislative Events

Gen.Assembly Wrap Up - Spring
State of the Town - Summer
State of the County - Fall
Gen. Assembly Preview - Winter


 

 

Policy Position Statement

The Chamber of Commerce is not in the business of writing public policy. It is our business, however, to influence policy matters when we can and where it is appropriate. We exist for our members, who are businesses and individuals with widely differing political perspectives. These statements are gleaned from member polls and the study of general Chamber policies that exist throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Adopted January 2008


Education
The Chamber Supports:

  • A strong accountable K-12 system with indicators of academic success
  • Building of a recreational/gymnasium facility in Blackstone.
  • Town of Blackstones efforts to build a recreation complex on leased school property located on Oak Street.
The Chamber Opposes:
  • Any changes to the education composite index calculation that would adversely affect funding in our region.
Workforce Development
The Chamber Supports:
  • Additional state funding for training and retraining the existing workforce.
  • The efforts of Southside Virginia Community College at Fort Pickett to provide much needed training and business development.
Government Operations
The Chamber Supports:
  • An open dialogue between businesses and local officials in order to keep the public informed.
  • All proposed upgrades of facilities and ranges at Ft. Pickett.
  • Funding of a State Police driver training program at Ft. Pickett.
Economic Development
The Chamber Supports:
  • The building of a new medical facility in Downtown Blackstone.
  • Regional cooperation in order to allow for economic development and shared economies of scale.
  • Downtown Blackstone Inc.s efforts to revitalize the core business district of Blackstone.
  • Creation of competitive economic incentives that increase Blackstones attractiveness in the marketplace while assuring a positive rate of return from the taxpayer.
  • Responsiveness to the needs of small business and existing industry by state and local officials.
  • Our membership advocates expansion of signage to indicate business districts and municipal parking.
The Chamber Opposes:
  • The implementation of a super-minimum wage, which forces employers bidding on work in a locality to pay a higher super-minimum wage.
  • The creation of a Navy Outlying Landing Field at Fort Pickett.
Transportation
The Chamber supports:
  • The planning, construction, and maintenance of a statewide transportation system that is safe, need-based, integrated and responsive to the changing needs of Virginias communities.
  • The continued expansion of the BABS mass-transit system in Blackstone and the surrounding area.
  • The TransDominion Express (high-speed rail) through Appomattox, Bedford, and Lynchburg.
The Chamber Opposes:
  • Any change in the funding formula that would decrease transportation funding for rural areas.
Sound Fiscal Practice and Taxation
The Chamber supports:
  • Reform of the BPOL tax by creating exemptions, lower maximum tax rates, and allowing businesses to invoice and collect this tax from their customers.
  • A review of the Virginia tax structure to ensure it is equitable, fosters a favorable business climate, and encourages economic development.
  • A tax code that conforms to federal taxation. Taxes should be simple to report.
  • Preservation of Virginias highly valued AAA bond rating.
  • A realistic and results-based evaluation of all spending programs to assure that resources are spent as effectively as possible, and eliminate any proven ineffective programs.
The Chamber Opposes:
  • The Homestead Exemption constitutional amendment which if enacted would most likely result in higher business taxes.