This year, we made a deliberate investment in something that is critical to effective advocacy: building relationships.

By expanding our participation in the House and Senate Republican Caucuses and the Senate Democratic Caucus, our advocacy team gained access to rooms and conversations that are central to the function of effective advocacy. That access gives us more time with legislators, including those beyond the Lowcountry delegation, to discuss the issues that matter most to our business community.

Throughout the year, that engagement has included:

• Senate Republican leadership dinners during session, where participants are seated with an individual senator for meaningful one-on-one conversations.
• The Senate Republican Leadership Retreat, including 18 holes of golf with a senator and two dinners with different senators.
• Hosting seven Senate Democratic Caucus members at our Business Advocacy Committee to discuss business priorities, followed by a site visit to the Navy Yard to learn more about the redevelopment taking place.
• The House Republican Caucus Retreat, providing one-on-one time over dinner with representatives and networking with the full caucus as members begin discussing their legislative agenda for the coming year.
• A dinner bringing together business leaders and House Caucus members to strengthen connections between the business community and state policymakers.
• Additional networking and communication throughout the legislative session with members of all three caucuses.

These experiences are about much more than attending an event. They create the trust and familiarity that make effective advocacy possible. There is no substitute for one-on-one time with the people making decisions that impact our region and its businesses.

For our members, that translates into stronger representation when those decisions are being made. These connections give us more opportunities to bring the business community’s perspective into policy discussions, explain how proposals may affect employers and help keep the Charleston region’s priorities part of the conversation.

Chamber PAC contributors may also have opportunities to participate in these events, offering another way to connect with legislators and better understand the conversations shaping South Carolina’s business environment.

If you are interested in participating in a future opportunity, please let our advocacy team know. As always, thank you for your support!