The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber hosted dozens of other chambers of commerce this week for an event looking at the state's economy. Wednesday was "National Chamber of Commerce Day," and representatives from 40 organizations across Texas attended the event.
"The large companies, they've got lobbyists and can handle their own affairs. We end up being the group that takes care of small business," says Ross Perot Jr., the current chair of the U.S. Chamber Board. "Short-term, what we're doing now is we're really in there fighting for tariff relief for our small companies."
Perot says the 90 day pause on tariffs gave small businesses a chance to "get on their feet and understand how these extra expenses could impact their business." He says 95% of the U.S. Chamber's members are small businesses.
"Our small businesses, when companies come in, they're looking for opportunities to plug into their supply chain," says Irving-Las Colinas Chief Executive Officer Beth Bowman. "They view it as a win-win, which is really great to see that success story. Our enterprise businesses that are based here, that are running the global economy, they want to also shop locally."
Bowman says the Chamber has been asking small business owners for specific examples of how tariffs are affecting them and then working with the U.S. Chamber or Congressional delegation to present the message. She says Irving-Las Colinas and the U.S. Chamber would then suggest lawmakers meet with business owners to hear how tariffs could affect their business model.
"If they've adjusted to the tariffs, the reciprocal tariffs could be mission-critical for keeping their doors open," Bowman says.
"It's what we do every day," Perot says. "We get direct feedback daily on what we need to take to the administration to help small business. What we advocate at the Chamber is whatever changes are coming, let's get them over with so we can all settle down and go to work."
The Trump Administration says companies are making investments totalling $8.8 trillion in the United States.
"Every business needs to gear up to make sure you capture part of that $8 trillion," Perot says.
As an example, Perot cites Wistron's announcement in August it would spend $761 million on two artificial intelligence and supercomputing facilities at AllianceTexas in Far North Fort Worth.
"They're here because they promised President Trump they'd invest in America," Perot says. "That's a promise and direct money coming into Fort Worth right now. I use that example around the country to tell everybody, 'Go to work. That money is coming. Figure out where you can get that money invested in your community.'"
Perot says small businesses became l businessnervous about tariffs earlier this year, but "at this moment, our optimism is very high." The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber's Bowman says businesses "want predictability."
"We listen to our member investors, and what we're hearing from our businesses is they want to be able to predict so they can continue to invest capital in jobs throughout the US," Bowman says.
Bowman says chambers of commerce act as a "conduit" to connect businesses with local, state or federal agencies or elected officials. She says those connections can ensure lawmakers understand industries that exist in their communities.
"What we hear from our members is one thing everybody can guarantee is change is coming," she says. "Our companies are adapting. Technology is playing a role in that, but we want to encourage regulations that allow for our industries to be innovative."
Bowman and Perot say a key now is to prevent other countries like China from "dominating" in artificial intelligence. Perot says Texas ranks second behind Virginia in the number of data centers being established.
"With the natural gas we have, 160 years of natural gas, that power supply is driving gas turbine demand which is bringing in the AI data centers," Perot says. "Texas is well-positioned, and the country is very well-positioned for the economic boon we're going to have."
Perot says North America could "dominate the world for the next 100 years" with a focus on technology, immigration reform and energy reform.
"With all the energy in North America being brought to bear, no one can touch us," Perot says. "Europe is getting old, China is really getting old, Japan is getting old. We're still young, and we're growing."
Perot says China is playing "hardball" on rare earth minerals used in electronics and other devices because President Xi Jinping has shown the western world it was vulnerable but is now able to rebuild its capacity more quickly.
"We talk about our debt load in the United States, it's far worse in China," Perot says. "That's why Xi is kind of on his last gasp if he's not careful. I'm not sure what he thinks he's going to achieve."
Bowman and Perot say they want to encourage regulation that would allow industries to be innovative.
"There's a stunning revolution coming," Perot says. "The United States should dominate the AI revolution."
Since 1976, Perot says the country's population has increased by 100 million, and the economy is eight times larger.
"The reason we've had this huge 50 year run is we've had economic freedom," he says. "The next 50 years with economic freedom, which we're going to fight for at the Chamber every day, we should have it even better."
Perot says artificial intelligence is just being established in the economy.
"We had some incredibly bright people in the office this week. They're talking about a world I've never heard of," he says. "I like to hear about these ideas, I want to hear about them early. Then we at the Chamber need to make sure we embrace those. If the idea just sounds crazy, maybe it's not crazy. Maybe that kid who walks in and needs help on a project, maybe you help him a little bit and be open minded."
Perot says the government shutdown can show the need for "constructive conversations." He says both sides would agree on 80% of the issues they discuss, but "don't bring national politics into your local Chamber."
Perot says he is advocating for freedom to develop artificial intelligence. He says national security could then develop a "guard rail" that would protect the country.
He says the economies and military strength of allies like countries in Europe, India, Japan and South Korea are stronger than Russia and China.
"You put all that together, we dwarf Russia and China," he says. "We have the economic and military power to keep them both contained and in-line if we have the will to do it."
Perot says the greatest issue facing the United States' ability to mine rare-earth magnets is regulation, saying states like California are limiting mining capabilities.