Business Advocacy
Membership Strengthens Your Voice - We are the voice of the business community on local, state and federal levels.
Looking for representation that counts? The Paducah Chamber is actively involved in serving as the voice for the businesses of Paducah/McCracken County and surrounding area. The Chamber works hard to represent the best interest of our community with our local elected officials and our state and federal legislative delegations as well as with other key decision makers. The Paducah Chamber’s top priority is to be an advocate for our community and our members.
For more information on any of the programs listed below, please contact Sandra Wilson or call 270-443-1746.
Business Advocacy Committee: This committee meets monthly and reviews upcoming local, state and federal policies that are important to our business community. In addition, our local and state elected officials frequently brief the committee on topics or legislation that may impact their businesses. Membership is open to any Chamber member.
Community Priority List: The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee facilitates a process to gather input for developing the community’s funding priorities for the upcoming session of the Kentucky General Assembly. This list includes capital and transportation infrastructure projects that are relevant on the local, state and/or federal levels. Position statements are also developed on local, state and federal public policy issues. 2023 Federal Priorities 2025 State Legislative Priorities
Legislative Lobbyist: The Paducah Chamber is one of only a few communities in the state with a lobbyist actively promoting our local priority list during state legislative sessions. Our lobbyist, who has been with the Chamber since 1995, has been instrumental in assuring economic and community development projects for our area and serves as an advisor on strategy and local, state and federal public policy issues.
Washington D.C. Legislative Trip: Each year the Chamber coordinates a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials, members of Congress and their staffs. Approximately 30 community and business leaders and local elected officials participate in this two-day Fly-In during which we meet with Kentucky’s Senators and other members of Congress from Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois and their staffs. Additionally, meetings are held with high ranking officials in the Department of Energy, National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, the Maritime Administration and other important federal agencies. 2023 DC Fly-In Agenda
Frankfort State Legislative Trip: The Chamber also coordinates an annual one-day bus trip to Frankfort for our community and business leaders to meet with the Governor, Cabinet officials and members of the General Assembly to advocate for our community and our legislative priorities. 2025 State Legislative Priorities
West Kentucky Thank You Night: During the even-numbered years of the State Legislative Session, this event is held in Frankfort to express appreciation to our state officials and House and Senate members for past, present, and future support of Western Kentucky’s projects and programs and to spotlight our region, including the continued development and advancement of I-69. More than 1,000 community and business leaders attend this event, including State Leadership, members of the General Assembly, Cabinet officials and other dignitaries.
Public Policy Series: The Chamber coordinates candidate forums for key local, state and federal races to educate Chamber members and the public on the individuals who are running for office and their positions on various issues. In addition, legislative updates are held to give state and federal officials an opportunity to brief the local community on the happenings in the state capitol and in Washington, D. C.
West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance: The Paducah Chamber serves as the administrator for this formal alliance of the Chambers of Commerce in 14 counties in far western Kentucky. Its purpose is to provide a unified voice for local businesses in the region and to serve as a catalyst for regional leadership and action, bringing together resources for legislative, educational, infrastructure and economic development advocacy. The WKRCA counties have an estimated population of almost 329,000 individuals, cover approximately 4,800 square miles and represent approximately 12 percent of the 120 counties in Kentucky. In addition, it serves as co-host with its sister organization C-LINK in northwestern Kentucky for the West Kentucky Thank You Night reception held biennially in Frankfort during the Legislative Session.
