The Tucson Metro Chamber's Shift to Workforce Advocacy   

The Tucson Metro Chamber has recently shifted its focus to workforce advocacy, a bold move that has generated significant interest from local businesses. The Chamber's workforce advocacy efforts are already making a difference, providing businesses with enhanced representation, legislative influence, tailored support, and collaborative opportunities. 

Enhanced Representation  

The Tucson Metro Chamber has always been a strong advocate for businesses in Southern Arizona. Our active engagement with policymakers, legislators, and community leaders has given local businesses a powerful platform to voice their concerns and priorities. This newfound focus on ensuring a healthy workforce is developed has been crucial in addressing pressing local workforce issues. 

Legislative Influence 

By focusing on advocacy, the Chamber will be actively involved in shaping workforce-related policies and legislation. This will have an immediate impact on businesses by ensuring that their interests are considered in the decision-making process. For example, the announcement of our shift to workforce advocacy two months ago led to several organizations asking us to collaborate on issues that support a healthy workforce, including quality childcare, attainable housing, quality K-12 education and maximizing Arizona refugee talent (a bill that the Chamber supported and was recently signed into law by Governor Hobbs earlier this year). 

Tailored and Guided Support 

Unlike prescriptive initiatives, which offer fixed solutions, advocacy allows us to provide tailored and guided support to businesses. This means that the Chamber can respond more flexibly to the unique needs and challenges faced by individual employers, as well as offering guidance and resources that strengthen their employee recruitment and retention practices. This might include sharing best practices of developing policies that eliminate unnecessary barriers to employment, prioritizing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access practices to increase business revenue, and highlighting innovative employee retention strategies such as respite rooms and flexible schedules. 

Collaborative Opportunities 

The Chamber's workforce advocacy approach is beginning to facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Businesses are finding value in participating in these collaborative efforts, which bring together employers, educational institutions, workforce development agencies, and other community organizations. These partnerships are yielding innovative solutions for addressing workforce gaps and talent shortages. 

Growing Interest 

Businesses in our region have been quick to recognize the potential benefits of the Chamber's workforce advocacy initiative. Many, including new members, have reached out seeking more information, eager to learn how they can get involved and contribute to shaping the future of the workforce in Southern Arizona. 

The immediate impact of this shift is not only transformative but also holds the promise of sustained positive change. The Tucson Metro Chamber's advocacy efforts are putting businesses at the forefront of workforce development discussions, ensuring their needs are met, and their voices are heard. 

As we continue to champion workforce-related policies and initiatives, local businesses, small and large, can look forward to an environment that is more supportive, adaptable, and conducive to their growth and success. The growing interest from businesses underscores the significance of this shift and highlights the Chamber's pivotal role in shaping the region's workforce for years to come.  

For more information about your Chamber’s shift to workforce advocacy, please contact Frank Velásquez Jr., Director of Workforce Advocacy, at fvelasquezjr@tucsonchamber.org.  

On October 26, 2023, the Tucson Metro Chamber's Workforce on Tap presented by the Talent Store will hold a panel discussion on the value of hiring older adults. The Chamber’s workforce advocacy team will gather a panel of experts to dispel myths and highlight the advantages in hiring older adults in the workforce. 

The panelists will delve into how older adults enhance workplace productivity and innovation through their extensive knowledge, professionalism, and adaptability. Moreover, the discussion will explore how creating a more age-inclusive workplace culture can lead to increased employee retention and satisfaction. Conversely, the panel will address the stereotypes, biases, and hurdles that older adults often encounter during the hiring process and in their workplaces. 

Date: October 26, 2023 

Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm 

Location: To Be Determined 

If you are looking to hire quality candidates, click here to register. You may find an awesome older adult ready to shine! 

  Pima County's Business Services Can Help Your Business Thrive!   

On September 21, 2023, your Chamber brought in folks from the Pima County Community and Workforce Development’s Business Services department to present to our Construction/Design Partnership Roundtable group. The Pima County Community and Workforce Development's Business Services department helps businesses recruit and retain qualified employees at all skill levels. The One-Stop provides employers with a single point of contact to connect with hundreds of community programs, private and public training colleges, federal and local grant funds, as well as thousands of local job applicants.   

For more information in how Business Services can help you, please contact Kristen Bitgood at Kristen.Bitgood@pima.gov. 

The Prosperity Initiative: An Intergovernmental Collaboration to Develop a Healthier and Wealthier Community   

The Prosperity Initiative is an intergovernmental effort to develop wealthier communities across Pima County through policies that reduce generational poverty and improve opportunity. The Initiative includes eight area governments in Pima County – City of Tucson, City of South Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Pima County, Tohono O’odham Nation, Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, and Town of Sahuarita -- along with community stakeholders.   

If you’d like more information on the Prosperity Initiative, please contact Bonnie Bazata @ bonnie.bazata@pima.gov or 520-724-3704. 

Frank Velásquez Jr. 

Director of Workforce Advocacy 
P: 520.879.0040 
fvelasquezjr@tucsonchamber.org 

  Follow the Chamber on social media.