KEENE, N.H. – As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and grow the New Hampshire economy, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today convened a diverse group of business owners, workers, and education leaders for a roundtable discussion focused on local efforts to train and secure a highly-skilled, 21^st Century workforce in the Granite State. During the roundtable, Kuster heard directly from local stakeholders who are working to ensure that Granite Staters have the skills they need to compete for and win well-paying, middle class jobs. She also discussed her recently released Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which proposes a series of bipartisan, common sense steps Congress can take to strengthen workforce development, create jobs and grow the economy.

“To keep the New Hampshire economy growing, we must invest in a 21^st Century workforce,” Kuster said. ”Here in Keene, business owners and education leaders are working together to develop new, innovative ways to build our workforce. I was thrilled to host this roundtable to hear about the great work being done in Keene and all across New Hampshire to prepare our workers for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Roundtable participants included representatives from the Hannah Grimes Center’s Business Incubator program, the Regional Center of Advanced Manufacturing at Keene State College, Work Ready NH, and a range of local employers and organizations focused on workforce development.  

“We were pleased to get a chance to share with Congresswoman Kuster the importance of workforce training to employers here in Keene and around New Hampshire,” said Mary Ann Kristiansen, executive director of the Hannah Grimes Center. “As the Congresswoman and others noted, access to a trained workforce is essential to the success of our local economy, and we appreciated this opportunity to discuss the specific steps we can take together to build our workforce and grow the economy.” 

A member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families. To mark the start of her second year in Congress, Kuster last month released her Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda. The plan, a blueprint that outlines common sense, bipartisan steps to help create jobs in New Hampshire, includes a range of proposals Kuster has introduced to create jobs and grow the economy, including the Workforce Development Investment Act, which would provide up to $10,000 in annual tax credits to employers that partner with community colleges or other institutions of higher education to improve workforce development for students.  

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