In April 2011, the Chamber officially announced its 2011-2012 19-point agenda Public Policy Agenda with priorities around:

• Recruiting and Retaining Employers
• Improving the Regulatory Environment
• Building and Maintaining Infrastructure
• Improving and Expanding Access to Customers
• Increasing Participation and Influence by and of the Business Community

As in years past, the Chamber is involved in local elections. The Chamber is only working around Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal candidates, not School Board, Town of Hillsborough, nor Town of Mebane. This year, the Chamber:

• Endorsed the County Sales and Use Tax Referendum: At its June meeting, the Chamber's Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the proposed 1/4 cent sales tax increase in Orange County. One-half of the revenue, if the tax is passed, will go toward economic development efforts in the county. The Chamber asks you to vote FOR the local sales and use tax referendum.
• Issued a questionnaire: This year, candidates received a 12-question survey by SurveyMonkey. Each question is multiple choice (yes/no/unsure) with one short answer question about what three things he/she would do to help grow and sustain enterprise in their community. Click the links on the left to see their responses to our questionnaire.
• Interviewed each candidate: Chamber staff and Chamber member volunteers interviewed each candidate for 45-60 minutes, asking them open-ended questions.
• Co-hosted two forums: This year is unique in that we hosted a joint forum with the Orange-Chatham chapter of the Sierra Club. For media coverage on the forums, visit these links:
  • Forum focuses on the economy and environment (Chapel Hill News, 9/25/11)
  • Chapel Hill Candidates Debate Sustainability and Economic Growth (Chapelboro, 9/21/11)
  • Candidates Warn That School Overcrowding Will Hurt Housing Development (Chapelboro, 9/26/11)
  • CHTC Candidates Agree (Mostly) On Rural Buffer (Chapelboro, 9/25/11)
  • Candidates talk business and environment at Chamber of Commerce and Sierra Club forum (Daily Tar Heel, 9/22/11)
  • Chapel Hill candidates talk environment, economy (Carrboro Citizen, 9/29/11)
  • Carrboro alderman hopefuls debate issues (Chapel Hill News, 9/25/11)
  • Carrboro Candidates Talk Up Local Economy (Chapelboro, 9/23/11)
  • Carrboro candidates discuss development at Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club forum (Daily Tar Heel, 9/24/11)
  • Carrboro candidates square off at Chamber/Sierra Club forum (Carrboro Citizen, 9/29/11)
• Published an editorial on each candidate: Each candidate has a fair, but not neutral, description, with particular attention paid to candidate's views on business and economic development issues. These are not endorsements. Click the links on the left to learn more about the candidates.