In Your Backyard - May 20, 2008

Louisiana
Schools Offer to Retrain Students
Louisiana's community and technical colleges are offering to retrain students for free if businesses deem them not prepared enough after hiring them. Gov. Bobby Jindal (D), who campaigned partly on the "Day 1 Guarantee," praised the new plan in a news conference at Baton Rouge Community College. There is no funding set aside specifically for the new "Day 1 Guarantee" policy, so there will be limited direct effects. But Jindal said the message and the stronger links between industry and colleges are key.
Source: The Advocate

 

Massachusetts
Summer Jobs Program Gets a Boost
Flanked by three Boston teenagers, Governor Deval Patrick (D) encouraged businesses last week to take advantage of a 27% increase in state money for summer jobs. The state's YouthWorks program supplements private funding to pay at-risk young people in summer jobs in 25 cities and towns. Funding for this year is $5.6 million, which includes a $151,000 increase for Boston.
Source: The Boston Globe

 

Missouri
Business Tax Credits Passed in Last Minute Flurry
Lawmakers passed more than an entire session's worth of bills--70 in all--in a mad rush the last three days of the session, including a bill that would expand two heavily used economic development programs. The bill, which must be signed by Gov. Matt Blunt (R) to take effect in August, would expand the annual limit on state tax credits available through the Missouri Quality Jobs Program from $60 million from $40 million. The bill also would more than double the amount of credits available for companies located in areas with high unemployment and low income.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

 

Oregon
Governor Splits Economic Development Department
The state of Oregon is going to try a new strategy when it comes to job creation. Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) signed an executive order that splits apart the state's Economic and Community Development Department. The governor says economic and community development are two different concepts. By splitting the department in two, Kulongoski hopes to take the pressure off of community development planners to show they've created new jobs.
Source: Northwest Public Radio

 

Virginia
State Launches Business Start-Up Web Site
Virginians looking to start a business now have a one-stop Web site to help them through the process. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) announced the launch of the state's online business formation portal called 'Business One Stop.' The site helps streamline the process to start a business in Virginia by finding and filling out the necessary forms.
Source: Associated Press