STEP pg 1 4-19-12
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
'Step up'
fund helps
businesses
PUTNAM --- State Representative Danny Rovero (D-Killingly, Putnam, Thompson) welcomed the announcement that a new state jobs program called “STEP UP,” which provides subsidies and grants to help small businesses hire more people, has resulted in 65 new jobs at 45 state companies.
Another 135 residents are in the process of being hired through the program, which came out of the bipartisan jobs bill backed by Rep. Rovero and passed in October. One of those businesses getting state funds to hire and train a new employee is New England Plasma, a small coatings business in Putnam.
"STEP UP" is a great program that gives us another opportunity to help the unemployed get back to work. It’s a win for the people and a win for the state, while giving small businesses a chance to grow,” said Rovero. “That is what economic revival is all about.”
The Subsidized Training & Employment Program (STEP UP) provides two types of hiring incentives – a scaled, six-month wage subsidy and a small manufacturer training grant that provides up to $12,500 over a six-month period. Qualified participants are typically residents who may have some of the necessary job qualifications but who still require on-the-job training to meet the needs of the company.
“The incentives offered through STEP UP are helping employers make the decision to hire individuals that show tremendous potential, but need more training,” said state Department of Labor Commissioner Glenn Marshall. “The positive response to STEP UP from the business community provides further validation that Connecticut’s economy is recovering and the number of job opportunities is growing. We are grateful to Governor Malloy and the General Assembly for having the vision to approve an initiative that benefits both employers and jobseekers.”
In total, STEP UP will provide $20 million in subsidies and training grants to help Connecticut small businesses hire more employees. Of the new jobs the program has helped create so far, positions include customer service representatives, machine operators, office assistants, carpenters, mechanics, equipment installers, shipping and receiving, fabricator, dispatch manager, tool grinders, help desk technicians and process engineers with hourly wages from $10 to $28.85.
To be eligible for either program, a company must employ less than 50 people and training must be provided at the business site. The new employee must be an unemployed jobseeker, and those hired under the wage subsidy program must meet certain income requirements and reside in specific municipalities, based on population or unemployment rates.
Small businesses and unemployed jobseekers seeking additional information on the STEP UP program should visit the Connecticut Department of Labor’s website at http://ct.gov/dol/StepUp to download a fact sheet, contact information and inquiry forms.