The Hampton Roads Chamber is proud to be a nonpartisan organization that advocates for legislation from both parties to benefit the business community of Hampton Roads. Our region is the organization structure for the economy, and we need our legislators to work together to ensure we get favorable legislation passed for the business community. The current shift in leadership has left a gap in legislators from Hampton Roads. These legislators participate in key committees that have an impact on the business community within our region. Without the influence of Hampton Roads legislators, I’m concerned that the result is a focus on legislation supporting the Northern Virginia region, instead of the Commonwealth as a whole.

 A recent Old Dominion University report showed Hampton Roads’ gross regional product, once growing faster than the national GDP, has flat-lined. Among major metropolitan areas, Hampton Roads grew only 0.46 percent in the past year. That’s less than a third the rate in Richmond, and far below comparable cities like Jacksonville, Fla., or Nashville, Tenn.