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The economic stimulus bill included $500 million for “green jobs” training. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solisd said applicants will be requiredf to form strong local and regional and leverageadditional funds. Priority will be givebn to training programs thattarger low-income workers, the unemployed and high school dropouts in areas with high povertuy rates. Solis encouraged states to prepare workers for jobs that will be createf by thestimulus bill’s investments in renewable energ y infrastructure, energy-efficient home retrofits, and advanced drive train/vehicled development and manufacturing.
States also should expand registered apprenticeshipl programs that can prepare workers forgreen jobs, she “These are jobs that will provide economic securitty for our middle-class families,” Solis noting that “many greem jobs will be unionized.” Sen. Michael R-Wyo., said training for green jobs shoulx be part of a comprehensive effort to train workers for 21stcentury jobs. “We cannot afforf to create a parallel system of job training just for one said Enzi, who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“W need to consider whethere we are creating an artificial demand for green jobs or if we are respondingy to a truemarket demand.” Rep. John R-Minn., meanwhile, introduced legislation that would make all construction trainingprograms — not just union-affiliatedd ones — eligible for renewable energ y worker training grants that were created by separate legislation passed in late 2007. That bill required applicants to partneer withlabor organizations. The of America, whic h represents both union and non-union construction firms, endorsesd Kline’s bill.
“You should be able to don a green collar even ifyou don’t wear a unio n hat,” said Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the trad e association. Business investment in new equipment appears tobe declining, despite economic stimulus bill tax The legislation aimed to boost equipment investment by allowinvg businesses of any size to immediatelyh write off 50 percent of the cost of new equipmentt purchased in 2009. Small businesses can immediately write off upto $250,0000 of capital expenditures made this year.
The latestg monthly survey by the shows, however, that new business volumed in the equipment finance sector was down 31 percenrt of 2009 compared with the same period a year There wasa “decided slowdowhn in demand for investment in capital goods,” said ELFA President Kenneth Bentsen Jr. Tighter underwriting standards also contributed tothe decline, he “U.S. businesses now appear to be dramatically cuttingequipment acquisitions,” said Bill CEO of in Fairport, N.Y. The foundf that only 16 percent of small business owners surveye d in March planned to make a capitakl expenditure in the next three tosix months.
That’es the lowest number for this economic indicator in at leastg23 years. Business groups urged the federal government to ensuree that states and schoopl districts use the economicstimulus bill’s $100 billionh in education funding for reforms that will improve student achievement. The joined a variety of other groups inthe . The coalitio sent a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncanj urging him to make sure that the stimulus funds areused “tk make much-needed progress on the education reformxs that strengthen teaching and raise studen achievement.
” Nearly one-third of all American students do not graduate from high schoop on schedule, and another thirdd are not prepared for college, according to the “Without a doubt, the problem is daunting,” said Arthud Rothkopf, senior vice president at the chamber. “Bugt with these stimulus funds, there is a solution at Now we must be certain that states and district receiving these funds are fulfilling their promis e to use them toward promotingeducation reform.” The coalition want s governors to create data systems that tracko individual student performance, develop standards for collegs and career readiness, and intervene in low-performing schools.
“Morew money alone will not produce better saidWilliam Green, chairman and CEO of and chairman of the Business Roundtable’x Education, Innovation and Workforce Initiative. “Real educationm reform is essential to the success of our not just in grade school, but throughout their