The following article is from the North Carolina Tribune, a daily (weekdays) newsletter that goes behind the scenes of state government to capture stories that impact the N.C. business community. Published on July 24, 2024, you can read the full edition here.  

Five questions with…

This week, we’re asking some movers and shakers how the N.C. General Assembly performed this year and what they think of CNBC’s recent No. 2 ranking of the state’s economic efforts.

Today features Gary Salamido, the CEO of the North Carolina Chamber. Salamido led the Chamber’s lobbying, advocacy and political efforts before being named its chief operating officer and acting president in 2018, then president and CEO in 2019.

What was the biggest accomplishment by the legislative session this year?

The NC Chamber Legal Institute and Government Affairs teams coordinated and led the efforts to advance Charlotte Attorney Todd Brown’s nomination to the N.C. Business Court. Brown was confirmed by the N.C. House and N.C. Senate and will be sworn in this fall as a special judge to the N.C. Business Court. The NC Chamber also supported the successful reappointment of Jim Gillen to the N.C. Industrial Commission. Those were excellent wins for our state.

Additionally, I was pleased to see movement in areas that help remove barriers to work. There was investment in our child care system, as well as movement on reforms to its regulatory processes. Criminal-justice reforms will help create opportunities for justice-involved individuals to reengage in the workforce by lifting the pause on automated expunctions for not guilty/dismissed cases. While vetoed, the regulatory reforms around housing would address challenges to housing availability so we are hopeful that policy will be considered in the coming months.

Enabling the full utilization of Build NC Bonds, allowing projects to proceed without delay or further cost increases, is also a great win.

What issues do lawmakers still need to tackle?

After a number of positive conversations this session, we are hopeful there will be opportunities later this year to advance policy banning third-party litigation investment in North Carolina. The practice in which an external party, separate from the plaintiff and defendant, provides financial support to one of the parties involved in a legal dispute in exchange for a share of the potential settlement or judgment, is problematic.

It is no secret that this year saw remarkably less activity than most short session years, so we are also looking to continue reforms around child care, regulations, public-private partnerships and legal climate. The business community is also supportive of the Propel NC initiative put forward by the community college system.

What’s the biggest economic issue facing the state’s future?

Talent, talent and talent. Our state has been a leader in creating alignment between our K-12, community college, and university systems. We must continue to advance demand-driven policies that align education and workforce programs with high demand jobs, as well as policy that removes barriers to work, including child care, housing, and criminal-justice reforms.

The recent CNBC state business rankings dropped North Carolina to No. 2 because of its infrastructure. Does that bother you?

I don’t feel like North Carolina lost; I feel like Virginia caught us. Three points, out of 2,500, is pretty close.

Economic growth, safety, and quality of life improvements are interconnected and dependent on investments in infrastructure. There are a number of efforts the business community is championing in this area, including advancing an all-of-the-above approach to energy modernization that includes advanced nuclear, working to remove barriers to utilizing public-private partnerships, developing a long-term strategy for water and sewer, and continuing to diversify funding for our transportation infrastructure.

With a continued focus on collaboration between the business community and policymakers, North Carolina is well positioned to top the ranking again in 2025.

What’s one way you think the state can better itself to attract growth?

North Carolinians cannot be complacent. Our state has experienced frequent and consistent growth, and we must continue to prioritize the policy work that made us competitive for those investments. The NC Chamber and NC Chamber Foundation will continue to study and advocate for solutions and policies that advance our education and talent supply, infrastructure, and competitive business climate. The best time to change our game is when we are on top, states across the nation are looking to emulate what we are doing here in North Carolina and we need to remain one step ahead of the competition.