Tennessee Business Forum launched to engage with federal policymakers | Opinion

There is value in understanding what other business leaders think about a particular topic and in hearing what other organizations are working on.

Tennessee is in the middle of an economic boom. Corporations and organizations from across the country are moving their headquarters and employees to the Volunteer State. People from all over are moving to Tennessee and integrating their lives here. It is a vibrant time to live and work in our state.

But as business and our economy grows, new challenges and opportunities arise, and the need for engagement with policymakers becomes crucial.

The old adage is, “All politics is local,” and that’s true. Local politics and policies more visibly affect our day-to-day lives than those at the federal level. But our everyday experiences, and those of the business community in Tennessee, are increasingly affected at the federal level, too.

The COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on this fact. The federal government authorized hundreds of billions of dollars in economic aid for businesses and non-profit organizations.

Whether you agree with that decision or not, most industries advocated for some sort of specific relief or necessary funding, and understandably so. It was up to federally elected officials to advocate for constituent businesses, colleges, and non-profits and help distribute the funds. It was a case study in showing businesses and organizations in the state that engagement at the federal level really matters.

As Tennessee grows, so does its businesses.

The Tennessee Business Forum was launched in January of this year at the request of Tennessee businesses and centers around that concept – federal engagement.

Other neighboring states, like South Carolina and Kentucky, have similarly structured councils and forums designed to connect state businesses and key organizations with their elected officials in D.C. in a collective capacity.

The Tennessee Business Forum was born from that idea and is focused on the reality that as Tennessee grows, so too does its diversity in business and population.

This is a positive fact, but with growth sometimes comes challenges and an influx of information silos. The Tennessee Business Forum seeks to fill that gap, both across industries and with policymakers.

To do this, the forum convenes leaders of Tennessee businesses and other significant organizations with fellow executives from varying industries, as well as with key Washington players on a broad range of legislative and regulatory issues. It is not a typical advocacy organization.

Diversity of thought is a strength.

Not all forum members need to agree to participate. In fact, some forum members likely disagree on certain policy issues.

We tout this as a strength. Diversity in thought and experience is positive and, since the forum is also multi-industry, it means that nearly every angle and perspective can be considered when weighing an issue.

This is a tremendous resource for policymakers to tap into as they make critical decisions that impact Tennessee. And since the Tennessee Business Forum does not lobby, lawmakers can trust that they are speaking to forum members motivated only by the desire to help advance the best interests of our state.

Of course, any business, non-profit, college, or citizen can meet with their elected representatives. But there is value in understanding what others think about a particular topic and in hearing what other organizations are working on. It is this understanding that allows the Tennessee Business Forum to uniquely serve as a catalyst for new ideas, collaborative projects, and opportunities that advance and promote the State of Tennessee and to support our elected officials throughout the process. Because now more than ever, engagement matters.