Gov. Ritter, lawmakers announce job training plans
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Gov. Bill Ritter, Senate President Brandon Shaffer and other lawmakers unveiled new job-training initiatives on December 10, 2009 that will strengthen Colorado’s workforce, support the state’s small businesses and keep Colorado competitive on the road to economic recovery.
“Over the past three years, we’ve launched some of the most aggressive business- and workforce-development strategies in the country,” Gov. Ritter said during a visit to the Jefferson County Workforce Center. “While Colorado residents and companies continue to struggle, our strategies are working and our economy is beginning to stabilize.
“We still have a long way to go, and government alone cannot fix the economy,” the governor said. “But we can do our part. We can strengthen partnerships between government, schools and businesses. And we can ensure that job-training efforts match job-creation efforts. That’s exactly what we’re doing today, and the end result will be good Colorado jobs for hard-working Coloradans and a stronger homegrown workforce for our businesses.”
“It all begins with a good job,” President Shaffer said. “At the Capitol, we’re fighting for hard-working Coloradans. We’re fighting to create jobs for them, and, thanks to the bills we’re announcing today, we are fighting to make sure Colorado workers are prepared for the jobs of the 21st century.”
Gov. Ritter and President Shaffer unveiled three bills that will be introduced in the upcoming 2010 legislative session. The governor also launched a CareerReady Colorado Certificate program.
Job Retraining Accounts (Rep. Andy Kerr/Sen. Bruce Whitehead)
These employer-matched, portable, employee-owned accounts will be used to finance employee education and training. They will encourage the creation of a partnership between workers and employers to increase educational productivity, improve recruitment and retention, and meet the changing demands of our economy. The accounts are tax advantaged in a manner similar to 529 college saving plans.
“My day job is teaching teachers to be even better, so I know that learning never stops,” Rep. Kerr said. “And I know that times are tough and folks are struggling. This bill will – with no new taxes – help people like you and me get the job re-training we need to get good jobs in this tough economy.”
“Colorado is a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” Sen. Whitehead said. “We need to do everything possible to ensure Colorado’s workers have the tools to keep up with the national and global workforce. This is an effective, low-cost way to help workers gain new skills and achieve their goals.”
Health Care Jobs for Colorado (Rep. Sara Gagliardi/Sen. John Morse)
This proposal will encourage and provide incentives for health care professionals to serve in rural and underserved communities, ensuring that residents of those areas have access to comprehensive health care services. It will improve existing public and private loan repayment programs and help build the state’s primary care workforce.
“Without any new taxes, we are cutting government and streamlining access to fair loan repayment programs for health care workers,” Rep. Gagliardi said. “As a nurse, I know that helping folks with their loans will bring in more workers like me to provide good health care and more choices for you.”
“Health care workers keep Colorado's people and economy healthy,” Sen. Morse said. “They provide care for people who are sick, and they contribute significantly to their local economies. This bill creates a streamlined process to put primary care physicians and nurses in the communities where they are needed, without increasing the cost to taxpayers.”
Nurse Training Loan Forgiveness (Sen. Abel Tapia)
This legislation will improve the existing CollegeInvest nurse loan forgiveness program by extending is current eligibility requirements. The new program will result in more nurse faculty and, ultimately the number of new nurses that can be trained each year.
Rep. Joe Rice, who chairs the House Business Affairs Committee, said these bills will be part of a broader effort to help create good jobs, assist small businesses and get Colorado’s economy moving in the right direction. “We’ve cut over a billion dollars from government spending and created a leaner and more efficient government so we can do exactly this: focus on jobs and on the real issues that matter to people.”
CareerReady Colorado Certificate
Gov. Ritter and Don Mares, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, also today introduced a new statewide CareerReady Colorado Certificate program.
The department piloted the program earlier this year. It will now be available statewide, providing job-seekers with a state-issued credential that certifies their skills and abilities. It was a key recommendation of the Governor’s Jobs Cabinet, as it will enable employers to quickly find qualified candidates.
“We talk a lot about shovel-ready projects,” Mares said. “But employers know a project is truly shovel-ready only when there’s a career-ready workforce that’s fully prepared to get the job done. The CareerReady Colorado Certificate is a certified assessment tool that will help businesses to easily identify pre-qualified candidates with the desired skill set, while giving employees an edge in finding a better job.”
While these are challenging economic times, Colorado is responding, and responding in a big way,” Gov. Ritter said. “Through tax cuts, business incentives and greater access to capital we’re making sure Colorado emerges earlier and stronger from the recession. The proposals I announced today will allow us to continue making progress by ensuring we have the trained and certified workforce Colorado needs to support a vibrant economy.