Every legislative session, our advocacy team joins a delegation of Chamber members in Austin, representing the interests of 1,200 businesses in our region to meet with state policymakers.
In past sessions, a few of the advocacy wins for our community include:
• License Reciprocity for military spouses, which enables spouses to continue their professional work despite their professional license originating from another U.S. state.
• Funding for Abilene ISD’s LIFT, which provides hard skills and technical skills development for our students.
• We advocated directly for the Abilene State Supported Living Center to remain open, protecting and retaining more than 1,100 jobs and supporting the patients and families of our community’s most medically fragile.
• We have directly helped the city to retain the State’s portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax that enabled the development and construction of the Doubletree By Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center.
• Funding for the permanent installation and expansion of the Texas A&M Forest Service wildfire fighting operation at the Abilene Regional Airport; this will provide vital and timely support to our rural surrounding communities that are at higher risk for wildfires.
All of this would not be possible without your support to your Chamber; together, we have a greater impact and a louder voice when policy is on the table.
Advocating for Abilene’s business community is the heart of what we do at the Chamber. That’s why I’m personally inviting you to join me and other passionate leaders on a two-day trip to Austin on February 20 and 21 to continue this vital work.
This trip is presented by Taylor Telecom and sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance. It is more than just a series of meetings; it’s an opportunity to:
• Tell your story to the people who shape the laws and policies that affect your business every day.
• Connect with fellow Abilene leaders who share your commitment to growing our local economy.
• Demonstrate the strength and unity of our business community to decision-makers in our state’s capital.
We’ve seen firsthand how impactful these trips are. Policies that support job creation, workforce development, and infrastructure investment don’t happen by accident—they happen because people like you take the time to advocate for what’s right.
I know your time is valuable, but I truly believe this trip is worth it. Together, we can ensure that Abilene’s needs and potential remain a priority in Austin.
To reserve your spot or learn more, please contact Ashley DiMauro at ashley@abilenechamber.com or visit this link. Let’s show our representatives that Abilene is a community worth the investment!
Onward!