Doing Business Newsletter: Message From Our CEO, Our Government Advocacy Impacts Your Business & Other News

2020 marks the Northern Virginia Chamber’s 95th year in business, but rather than planning big celebrations with much fanfare, we’ve instead spent our year doing what we do best: working on our members’ behalf. There is no area where this is more true than in our Government Advocacy work. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and major elections set to take place in the fall, to say 2020 has been a big year in Government is an understatement.

We recently launched our members-only advocacy email, The Chamber Bulletin, to help keep our members informed on business-relevant federal, state, and local government alerts and deadlines. Each issue contains items that Clayton Medford, our VP Government Relations, has carefully selected for our members’ NOVA businesses. I encourage you to read each Bulletin as it’s likely at least one piece relates to your business (contact Carmen Sevilla for membership details).

While keeping our members informed is important, our real focus is directly advocating for your business. We do this in a variety of ways, including maintaining full-time representation in Richmond throughout each year’s General Assembly and working directly with government officials throughout the year. Members who want to become actively involved are encouraged to contact Clayton.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted us to add new layers to our advocacy work. We’ve hosted many of our State’s Government leaders in related webinars that can be found as recordings on our COVID-19 website. We recently introduced you to the NOVA Back to Work Leadership Task Force’s online Resource Center, a project we spearheaded and collaborated with GO Virginia and other regional Chambers and organizations... Continue reading here.

Read the Full Message

ADVOCACY UPDATES

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Clayton Medford, NOVA Chamber's Vice President, Government Relations

Annual State of Transportation Featuring Sec. Valentine, Regional Leaders

The Chamber’s Annual State of Transportation is THIS WEDNESDAY at 3:00pm on Zoom. Our event will kick off with the federal overview from Ed Mortimer, Vice President, Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This keynote presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Virginia Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine, DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Executive Director Monica Backmon and Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Executive Director Kate Mattice. Hear the latest on the impact of a dramatic increase in teleworking, major projects like the American Legion Bridge and Long Bridge, and the impact COVID will have on transportation budgets. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions as well. Register here.

Corporate Leaders Press Congress for Small Business Relief in Latest Stimulus. Learn more here.

Top Federal Reserve official says US needs another lockdown to save economy (The Hill). Learn more here.

Keep an eye out in early August for the Chamber’s legislative priorities for the Special Session. In the meantime, please contact me at cmedford@novachamber.org with any questions or concerns.

MEMBER BENEFIT

PROMOTE YOUR NAME VIA OUR MEMBER BLOG

Would you like to get your name and business in front of tens of thousands of regional professionals? Each week we feature a member blog post in our newsletter, website, and social media. Our blog is open to all members here.

Submit Your Blog Idea Here

COUNCIL SERIES & NETWORKING

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

Annual State of Transportation

August 5th | 3-4:30PM

Our event will kick off with the federal overview from Ed Mortimer, Vice President, Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This keynote presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Virginia Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine (invited), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Executive Director Monica Backmon and Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Executive Director Kate Mattice. Hear the latest on the impact of a dramatic increase in teleworking, major projects like the American Legion Bridge and Long Bridge, and the impact COVID will have on transportation budgets. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions as well.

Apply by August 7th here to be considered for the 2020 Greater Washington Innovator of the Year Award!

You have until August 7th to submit your 1-minute video application showcasing all things business innovation and tell us why you deserve to take home not only the award but bragging rights for the next year.

On October 8th, we'll all gather for the Greater Washington Innovation Celebration, the Region's zaniest event showcasing your great minds and business creativity.

Apply Here

partner event

5th Annual Northern Virginia Elected Leaders Summit

August 18th | 8:15-10AM

The Northern Virginia Elected Leaders Summit offers the region’s business leaders the opportunity to hear from our local elected leaders about the economic climate in the region, initiatives they have completed or are undertaking to foster economic growth, and thoughts on how each jurisdiction can work together to improve our regional economy. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is hosting this summit with premier partner, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and co-hosts, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, Prince William Chamber of Commerce, and Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

Annual State of Healthcare

August 19th | 3-4:30PM

Our event will kick off with an update on what’s happening in Congress and around the country by Katie Mahoney, vice president of health policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Her keynote presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Daniel Carey, Virginia Secretary of Health and Toni Ardabell, associate chief of clinical operations at Inova. Expect to hear discussion on the ongoing COVID pandemic, the cost of healthcare, and more. The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session with attendees. Register today!

Nonprofits 101

September 1st | 10-11AM

How well do you know the nonprofit world? Have you been thinking about making a career switch?

We've got the information that will help you succeed within this unique and vital world that often plays a key role in the continuing education of our workforce, standards development, and public policy. Join us for Associations 101 to learn about this part of our economy, including its unique environment, culture, and energy.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:

September 4th

The Distinguished Service Awards honors those who have made meaningful contributions to help Veterans succeed.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 Distinguished Service Awards.

If you know of an outsanding Veteran-Owned Business, Veteran Employee or a Veteran Service organization that is worthy of an award please submit an application today. (Self nominations are accepted!)

Submit Application Here

MEMBER BENEFIT

MEMBER NEWS

Earn a master's degree from Virginia Tech Engineering in the DC area! Representatives from Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering are hosting monthly information sessions about graduate programs based in the greater Washington, DC metro area. Register today for August 14th or September 4th. Register here.

Would you like to include your member organization's news in our next Doing Business issue? Sharing news is free for all members! All you have to do it complete the form on our website found here. The deadline to submit news is Friday at 12PM prior to our Tuesday newsletter.

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Doing Business is the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce's weekly e-newsletter focused on member-relevant news, Council Series updates, and upcoming events. Each month we will feature advocacy updates, a message from our President & CEO, and member-written blog posts. Subscription sign-up and past issues may be found on our website.