(Nashua, N.H.) – Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited Nashua Community College to announce the introduction of her legislation, the Workforce Development Investment Act. Kuster was joined by Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess, representatives of New Hampshire’s community colleges, and others to discuss the importance of the legislation to expanding New Hampshire’s workforce. The group visited the Microelectronics Boot Camp at Nashua Community College, which trains students in wire bonding and helps connect students with local employers.

“Companies know what they’re looking for in employees and if we can help them train workers in the skills they need it’s a win-win for all involved,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This bill expands job training and makes it easier for community colleges to partner with employers to make sure we are training students in the skills they need for the 21^st Century economy. Innovative programs like the Microelectronics Boot Camp at Nashua Community are exactly the types of collaborative efforts we need more of and my legislation would bolster these types of productive partnerships.”

“This bill will be of great help to Nashua because it addresses three significant needs in our community simultaneously," said Mayor Donchess. "It equips our employers with qualified local workers to fill the number of vacancies that currently exist in the more technical sectors of our economy. On the other hand it helps expand on and improve higher education options available to students that are more affordable to them and more applicable to their chosen career path. Career is the key concept, because this bill will also stimulate access to workers for good jobs that lead into a career that can enable them to better support themselves and their families.”

The bill is supported by the New England Council, a nonpartisan business alliance that promotes economic growth across New England.

“In New England, equipping workers with the right set of skills in a timely manner is crucial for the success of our workforce and our economy. The tax credit in this legislation will help encourage employers to support partnerships which address our skills gap in creative and collaborative ways. It provides tax credits for partnership models that have proven successful, and while these models are continuing to be improved upon, incentivizing their development will help strengthen these types of partnerships at a time when they are greatly needed.” – Jim Brett, President and CEO, The New England Council

Kuster’s legislation would create tax incentives to encourage companies and educators to partner in training programs to help workers gain the skills needed for careers in the 21^st Century economy. Specifically the bill would create a credit to encourage employers to partner with community colleges and career and technical training schools to develop workforce training programs for skills that are in demand within their community or region.  It would also create a separate credit for the cost of direct training conducted as part of an educational partnership or licensed apprenticeship program.  

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