Key Takeaways from our trip to Tallahassee

At the beginning of March, the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Amplify Clearwater and Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber joined forces for a critical advocacy trip to Tallahassee, demonstrating the power of collaboration in championing local business interests of Pinellas County. The two chambers, accompanied by business leaders and our community stakeholders, met with lawmakers to push for policy changes and funding that directly impact St. Petersburg, Pinellas, and the greater Tampa Bay region.

A key focus of their advocacy was securing hurricane relief for businesses and residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The storms caused widespread damage across Florida, and many local businesses continue to struggle with recovery. Many small businesses haven’t reopened and there are 1,400 hotel rooms that remain offline.  The chambers urged legislators to allocate additional relief funds to help rebuild infrastructure, stabilize impacted businesses, and strengthen future disaster preparedness.

Another major issue on the agenda was local control over construction crane regulations. The chambers emphasized that municipalities, rather than the state, should have the authority to regulate crane operations to ensure safety and efficiency in urban development which would have prevented the crane falling on the Johnson Pope/Times Building downtown. While thankfully no one was hurt, that event led to displacing numerous businesses and the loss of 12% of the Class A office space in downtown St. Pete.

Additionally, the delegation voiced strong support for transportation and small business initiatives, including the formation of a regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). A regional MPO would improve coordination and funding for essential transportation projects, ensuring smoother commutes and better connectivity across Tampa Bay.

By bringing local business owners and leaders to Tallahassee, the St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa Bay Beaches Chambers demonstrated the power of grassroots advocacy. Business leaders who made the trip with us provided firsthand accounts of the challenges they face, making a compelling case for policies that drive economic growth and resilience.

One Chamber member in attendance, Renee Edwards, shared successes and challenges with legislators for the Saturday Shoppes event series she created in St. Petersburg.  Additional funding for vendor education and growth opportunities is needed, so Renee is partnering with Representative Michele Rayner on an appropriations request to help take the program to the next level.  Chad Holman, the Chamber's HLUD Chair and Owner of Cask Construction, had the opportunity to share his direct experiences and suggestions with Representative Bill Conerly who is sponsoring a bill expanding zoning regulations regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The collaboration between the three chambers underscores the strength of unified advocacy. By aligning on key priorities, we are not only advocating for local businesses but also shaping a more prosperous future for the entire region. My key takeaway from the trip is that I feel like we were listened to by the elected officials, and that meeting with them in person will have a positive impact on our local business community.  One key element to Chamber membership is to show up and participate.  You have the opportunity to create change for your business and for the community.  Check out this page for more ways to get involved with Chamber advocacy committees and events: www.stpete.com/advocacy.