This week, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance hosted Sen. Ted Budd for a dialogue with the region’s business and civic leaders, discussing his inaugural year in the Senate and outlining his priorities for 2024. CLT Alliance Chair and Ally Financial Business Administration Executive Ali Summerville moderated the conversation.
To start the program, Budd underscored his 2024 priorities, emphasizing his active involvement in key committees focused on critical issues within health care, commerce, armed services, and small business and entrepreneurship.
With a background as a small business owner, Budd shared his commitment to growing the talent pool and generating workforce opportunities in the state.
Budd discussed key CLT Alliance priorities such as workforce, education, affordable housing, and childcare. He highlighted the importance of a robust workforce, emphasizing the significance of skills-based training and the critical role trade schools play in strengthening the state’s workforce and creating economic opportunities, and fostering upward mobility for residents.
Budd discussed a bill he sponsored, the Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning (PELL) Act, which would expand eligibility to high quality, short term job training programs giving students the opportunity to move into skilled roles quickly.
“We’re probably on the front end of the blue collar revival,” Budd said. “So, whatever it takes to support that, and whether that’s a rural area, like where I live in Davie County, or more urban areas, like Mecklenburg, it has to be skills-based training.”
City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Council Member Ed Driggs were also in attendance and shared their insights on workforce and mobility with the audience. They said these efforts will necessitate collaboration across all levels of government and appreciated the opportunity to work with Budd.
Budd concluded his dialogue by reiterating his support for the immediate expensing of research and development (R&D) expenditures, highlighting its vital importance for innovation in the region and for the broader business community.
R&D tax policy is a priority for the CLT Alliance, which has spearheaded a coalition of 15 chambers of commerce and business organizations on the issue. The CLT Alliance sent letters outlining the importance of the R&D issue and requested support from the region’s congressional delegation.
