Advocating for economic growth and prosperity.

The Boise Metro Chamber is a strong and credible voice in the business community and local and state legislature. Together, with our Board of Directors and committees, we advocate to elected officials on business and community issues that impact our region, Boise's quality of life, and the cost of doing business.

 Your Chamber, Your Advocate

On behalf of our members, we support: 

​Education & Workforce Development

The Boise Metro Chamber supports policies that strengthen our workforce, either directly through workforce development strategies or indirectly by supporting policies that provide families with access to high quality pre-K-12 education and/or quality childcare. 

• We continue to support the Governor's emphasis on K-3 literacy and the necessary funding to ensure reading outcomes are met. 
• Increase Career Technical Education Programs to expand the number of well-trained professionals for high-demand technical jobs. 
• We support the K-12 Idaho Education Standards and believe consistency is essential to quality educational outcomes. 
• We support restoring higher education funding that was cut during the 2021 legislative session. 
• We support investments in higher education to support and enhance Idaho's rapidly changing workforce.
• We support a statewide effort to provide early childhood education and/or access to quality childcare. ​

Idahos Transporation and Infastructure

​Our roads, bridges, and airports play an integral role in connecting commerce and industry. The Boise Metro Chamber understands the stark differences between rural and urban transportation needs, and we believe both must be maintained and supported. 

• We support using 2020 surplus revenue to develop a transportation trust fund for ongoing funding of Idaho's roads. 
• We support the state investment in public transportation systems that support working families and provide congestion relief. 
• We support increased broadband infrastructure access and improved internet speeds statewide. 
• We support all efforts to expand intrastate and interstate airline access. 
• We support Idaho receiving the full share of the federal infrastructure appropriation. 
• We support efforts to bring better transportation to the Mountain West through rails via Amtrak restoration. 

Tax and Economic Policies​

​The Boise Metro Chamber supports tax policy and economic development tools that create a favorable business climate and produces a vibrant, livable community attractive to working families. The Chamber support business-friendly, competitive tax and regulatory policies. 

• Maintain tax increment financing by urban renewal districts for community investments. 
• We support lowering the corporate and individual income tax to be competitive with surrounding states. 
• We support community supported local option taxation. 
• We support maintaining a reasonable balance between residential real estate and commercial real estate property taxes. 
• The Tax Reimbursement Incentive (TRI) legislation has directly led to thousands of new jobs in Idaho, and should be preserved.
• We support efforts to support small businesses by lowering barriers for employers to provide retirement saving plans to employees. 

​Travel & Tourism

​Travel and tourism is the third largest sector in Idaho's economy and we support all efforts to maintain and expand the industry to ensure its continued vibrancy. 

• Reform Idaho's liquor licensing policy while preserving the value of current population-based liquor licenses, or legacy licenses. Liquor licensing is a top issue for the hospitality and tourism industry.
• Support current statutes regulating the roles and responsibilities of auditorium districts for conference and sports facilities. 
• Protect Idaho's national reputation as a welcoming destination state for travel and tourism. 
• Support upgrades and re-development of the Expo Idaho Fairgrounds site. 

​Idaho Health Care Concerns

​Providing access to health care is an economic issue. Quality access to preventative care keeps Idahoans healthy and our workforce more productive. 

• Preserve Medicaid as voted intended to keep low-income Idahoans in the workforce and healthy.
• Fund Medicaid Expansion appropriately using the Affordable Care Act equation, where 90 percent is paid with federal funds and 10 percent is paid with state funds. 
• We support telemedicine (telehealth) options for rural communities. 
• We support current statutes designating Health Districts with the power to act and limit infectious disease outbreaks.
• We support the growth and continuation of the WWAMI program.

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2023 Organization for Advocacy

Policy Committee

Tom Mortell
Hawley Troxell 
Committee Chairmen

Odette Bolano
Saint Alphonsus
Chamber Chair

Mike Reynoldson
Blue Cross of Idaho
​Committee Vice Chair

Bill Connors
Boise Metro Chamber
Chamber President & CEO

Nonprofit Council 
Kevin Bailey
Idaho Nonprofit Center Chairman

Transportation Committee 
Seth Olson
Innovative Geotechnical Chairman

Education/Workforce Committee
Jennifer Swindell
Idaho EdNews Chairwoman

Small Business Advisory Council
Scott Learned
Learned Lawyer PLLC Chairman

Health Care Industry Board
Georgeanne Benjamin
Optum Idaho Chairwoman

Travel Industry Board
Kelly Jenkins
Enterprise Rent-a-Car Chairman

Financial Services Industry Board
Gerald Hunter
Idaho Housing & Finance Association Chairman

Food & Agri-Business Industry Board
Kathy Holland
Albertsons Companies Chairwoman

At- Large

Luke Malek 
Smith & Malek
Former Legislator

Scott Madison
Intermountain Gas Company
​Past Chairman

Ken Day 
JR Simplot Company
Committee Member

Kris Ormseth
Stoel Rives LLP
Past Chairman

Randy Hill
Stoel Rives LLP
​Past Chairman

April Arnzen
Micron Technology 
​Chamber Board

Chamber Advocacy Team

Tori Thomas
Community and Government Affairs Manager

Sarah Bettwieser
Cygnet Idaho, LLC
Contracted Lobbyist

Proud Members of

Chris Eyler
Vice President, Northwest Region
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Caroline Merritt
Legislative Advisor
Idaho Chamber Alliance

For more information about our advocacy efforts, please contact Tori Thomas,  Community Affairs Manager.