State Business Executives

POLICY
PILLARS

Sustainability

Sustainable business practices ensure safety, efficiency and responsibility in a manner that protects employees, communities, shareholders, and a healthy, vibrant environment, now and in the future. State Business Executives aggressively reducing emissions and effectively and efficiently utilizing renewable resources to power America forward.

SBE believes in aligning business performance with a commitment to environmental, social and community stewardship. We need to encompass the reduction of our environmental footprint, engage in an open and transparent manner on sustainability issues, and support sustainable development. Collectively, we must prioritize reuse and recycling, drive increased efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and advance renewable energy.

Infrastructure

America is being lapped as it comes to our infrastructure investments, quality of roads and bridges, and long-term sustainable funding models. State Business Executives encourages a renewed, bipartisan focus on ensuring a sound, well-funded infrastructure system. These include strengthening “user pays” models, unlocking the full potential of private investment, investing for maximum impact, putting smart regulation to work, accelerating innovation, and planning to maintain what is built. These principles must not only be applied to roads, bridges, public transit and rail. They must also be used to renew ports and inland waterways, aviation infrastructure, drinking and wastewater facilities, and energy infrastructure

Specifically, SBE supports increased investments in our transportation infrastructure. We should actively embrace public-private partnerships and alternative financing methods. Funding should be both sustainable and dedicated. Focus should be on user fees from those that are utilizing roads and bridges. While we support funding roads, bridges, and traditional transit, we encourage innovative multimodal transportation investments driven by local community needs.

Workforce

From advances in technology to global competition, innovation at a rapid pace is shaping the future of work in America and globally. Now more than ever, investments from the public and private sector in workforce development is critical to ensuring hardworking Americans succeed by equipping more young Americans and working adults with the education, skills and training needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Executives are driving solutions to connecting students and working adults to pathways that lead to sustained gainful employment. State Business Executives actively supports the development and implementation of a wide variety of programs, partnerships, and tools to address the challenges faced by the business community to recruit, train, and retain a skilled workforce.

Additionally, State Business Executives promote policies enhancing economic growth and job creation, ensuring an environment where new businesses can launch and current businesses are able to expand, resulting in continued creation of opportunities for workers and maintaining a vibrant economy.

Education

State Business Executives is dedicated to promoting high-quality education for everyone from pre-K through higher education. 

The U.S. education system is the direct pipeline to our future workforce and is imperative to our country’s ability to attract and retain top companies across all industries. The goal of our education system is to prepare the youth with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the future workforce and in life. However, our economy looks vastly different than it did even 20 years ago and continuing down the same traditional pathway and approach to education is not equipping our youth with the skills necessary and in demand among leading U.S. industries. 

To ensure America’s workforce is prepared for the jobs of the future, State Business Executives supports modernizing U.S. policies to increase access to high quality, affordable education and strengthen our education and training pipelines, so America’s youth can secure fulfilling jobs and sustainable career paths.

State Business Executives also promotes and assists business leaders investing in today’s youth through program development and partnerships to equip students with the education, skills, and training for our future workforce.

Immigration

The U.S. has long been the destination for the world’s hardest working, entrepreneurial, and talented immigrants. However, U.S. immigration policy has remained virtually unchanged since the 1980s. It is not designed to fit today’s economy, failing our country and all who have a stake in America’s success. State Business Executives supports modernizing U.S. immigration policies to reflect the world we live in today.

Immigrants play an instrumental role driving the American economy and contributing to American innovation. They are workers and taxpayers who complement the domestic workforce and make contributions large and small to our everyday lives.

Modern U.S. immigration policies are needed to recruit and retain global talent and preserve and strengthen our global competitiveness.

Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than doing the right thing in which State Business Executives believe it is a strong moral and economic imperative. Diversity spurs innovation and creativity, which lead to greater business success and opportunities. A diverse business community is a key driver of America’s economic success. When businesses recognize and embrace the value of different backgrounds and perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, remain relevant, and succeed and grow.

Business Leaders must go beyond welcoming to all, equitable for all, and prosperous for all statements or as aspirational business goals- it must put into practice policies regarding hiring, compensation, supplier diversity, and minority business development. SBE, our Board, and members commit to eliminating racial inequities and focus efforts on improving racial equality and economic opportunities for all. To accomplish a more equitable, just, inclusive society, we recommend the following:

  • Remove bias in job postings and hiring
  • Fairness in compensation and advancement
  • Internal methods to assess, measure, and report progress on fostering and maintaining a corporate culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect
  • Implementing DEI strategy at both the Board and C-suite levels
  • Increased use of minority suppliers 
  • Increase in federal minimum wage
  • Reform Small Business Administration policies, products, and service to support minority owned businesses
  • Congress must address a core driver of racial disparity- the improving early educational opportunities for young black, minority, and economically disadvantaged students