Meeting Space

Member News & Events

Our Government Relations Division works full-time on your behalf, providing the business community a voice in government and keeping public officials in touch with the concerns of area employers.  The department delivers your message every day, promoting business-friendly policies that keep you in business and help you grow.

Chamber Endorses 1/4 cent sales tax for Public Safety
The Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors endorses the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners' ballot initiative to renew a ¼ cent sales tax and dedicate revenues for public safety. After careful consideration, the Chamber concluded that the extension of the existing ¼ cent sales tax for public safety purposes will provide an overall positive impact on the quality of life and benefit the region's business community. The Chamber continues to support careful and efficient use of taxpayer funds, as necessary investments for the economic development and quality of life in Johnson County.

2008 Kansas Session Final Legislative Report
During the 2008 Kansas legislative session, the Chamber tracked more than 80 bills affecting the business community. Kent Eckles, the Chamber's full-time lobbyist, and the Government Affairs Committee met throughout the session to discuss and take action on key issues.
To keep our members informed, the 2008 Kansas Session Final Legislative Report has been compiled. It contains a summary of issues that form the Chamber's legislative agenda, and a record of how Johnson County legislators voted. Click here for a copy of the 2008 report.

2008 Legislative Priorities - click here

This Week in Topeka Legislative Update - click here

Get contact information for the 2008 Johnson County Delegation here.

Recent Issues:

Johnson County Education Research Triangle
The Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has endorsed the Johnson County Education Research Triangle, which seeks voter approval for a new 1/8-cent sales tax to support construction of new or expanded facilities at three local institutions. The project would create Kansas State University’s National Food Safety and Security Institute in Olathe, significantly expand the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park to enhance degree offerings in engineering, science and math, and create a clinical trials center in northeast Johnson County for the KU Medical Center to house a clinical and translational research center, including the clinical trials office for the KU Cancer Center and the headquarters of the Midwest Cancer Alliance.

The sales tax would raise approximately $15 million per year to support construction of the facilities and provide ongoing operations and maintenance, as well as the degrees and the research for the facilities.

The County Economic Research Institute has concluded that the Triangle would create about $1.4 billion in economic impact over the first two decades. This comes from the increase in wage rates that occurs with higher education degrees as well as the additional research dollars that come to a community that invests in research. These estimates do not include new companies and jobs that can result from cancer research and food safety research.

The Johnson County Commission has approved adding the sales tax initiative to the November 4 election ballots.

For more information: www.jocotriangle.com.

1/8 Cent Sales Tax Renewal
In January, residents of Overland Park overwhelmingly approved the extension of the 1/8 cent sales tax dedicated to residential street and thoroughfare funding. The Board of Directors of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce had unanimously endorsed the proposed five-year renewal. For more information, click here.

Annexation by City of Overland Park
The Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has supported  the City of Overland Park's plan for annexation. The Chamber believes the economic impact on the county is a significant benefit to the region's business community and citizens.
For the Chamber's position statement on the annexation, click here.
If you would like more information, contact Kent Eckles at keckles@opks.org, or call (913) 491-3600.


Additional Local, County, State Government Publications