Who coined this time as the "lazy days of summer?" We know you're working hard and we're trying to keep up with you, delivering on our promise to advocate for your business interests. In August, you can find out more about state legislation and the State of the Community, not to mention specific opportunities to comment on town ordinance changes and to learn about the benefits of hiring military veterans. Read your cheat sheet to what's going on in local and state government below in this month's Government Matters!

Report from Raleigh: NC Chamber to present at EDPP Meeting Aug. 6 This long session has grown particularly long and we're bringing in the expert to help you sort out pending state legislation and how it impacts your bottom line. Join us 8-9:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 6 at the Chamber's large conference room for our monthly Economic Development & Public Policy Committee meeting. NC Chamber Political Director Nathan Babcock will be our featured speaker and will update everyone on this current North Carolina General Assembly session. The EDPP Committee is open to any Chamber member employee and registration is not required.

Help make the changes you want to see: deadline to comment on LUMO changes Aug. 15

Photo credit: Ben Shields

The Town of Chapel Hill is continuing their efforts to revise the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO).  Why does this matter to your business? Because the Town is looking to revamp regulations pertaining to  B&Bs, accessory dwellings, signage,  parking lot landscaping, and water quality. Find out more information at townofchapelhill.org/lumo and use this new tool to write comments on the actual ordinance.  Contact Kristen with any questions or concerns about these changes. 

Hire a Hero: Learn benefits of hiring military veterans Aug. 18

Did you know that 27,000 service members will transition out of North Carolina military bases in 2015, already equipped with high-demand skills that local businesses need? You're invited to the first annual summit designed to help NC companies integrate military employment into their workforce strategy, 10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the MetLife Global Technology Campus in Cary. Local employers will now have the opportunity to join industry, government and military leaders to learn and share success stories on how hiring service members and veterans can drive bottom-line business results. The summit is free, but registration is required.  

How are we doing? Find out at the State of the Community Report Aug. 27

Each year we ask the question - how are we doing? - and we try to answer that in our annual State of the Community Report. Presented by the  Triangle Community Foundation and produced by the Partnership for a Sustainable Community, the State of the Community Report tracks the well-being of Chapel Hill-Carrboro along social, economic, and environmental indicators. Join us for a hot breakfast and hot topics, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Thursday, August 27 at UNC Friday Center and learn how we stack up. You'll be able to find the State of the Community Report from past years at our SlideShare account, but you won't want to miss our CEO Aaron Nelson's dig into the data. Register today at  carolinachamber.org/events or email Chela Tu.