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Posts Tagged ‘U.S. Conference of Mayors’

Slattery Appointed to the CDBG Advisory Board

Monday, November 7th, 2011

The NH Community Development Finance Authority announces that Justin Slattery has been appointed to CDFA’s Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board. Slattery, a Business Resource Specialist with the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, will help approve New Hampshire grant requests for federal CDBG funds. 

NH Division of Economic Development Business Resource Specialist Justin Slattery

“We’re pleased to have someone of Justin’s caliber on the Advisory Board,” said CDFA Executive Director Kathy Bogle Shields. “Justin will bring his extensive experience in business and workforce investment to the board, which will help insure quality economic development projects are approved.” 

Last year, CDBG economic development grants in NH assisted 26 businesses, 133 microenterprises, created 304 jobs, and retained another 50 jobs. CDBG housing grants serviced 418 units, 127 which were elderly occupied.  Every CDBG dollar invested leveraged another $5.28 in private funds. 

“I’m honored to represent the NH Division of Economic Development on the CDBG Advisory Board,” said Slattery. “I’ve worked with many businesses in the state and I’ve seen firsthand how a Community Development Block Grant can lead to economic growth and job creation.” 

A Pelham native and a 2003 UNH graduate, Slattery has been with the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development since 2010. Before that he worked with NH Works/Workforce Investment Act, HireVision Staffing, and was Director of Citizen Services for Governor John Lynch. He and his wife Amy live in Goffstown. 

The CDBG Advisory Board approves $8-10 million in grants annually for housing/public facilities and economic development projects for NH municipalities and counties.  Community Development Block Grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered in New Hampshire by the Community Development Finance Authority. 

CDBG has been hailed by the US Conference of Mayors and by the Council of State Community Development Agencies as “the Federal Government’s most successful domestic program.”

Shaheen and Cochran Introduce On-the-Job Training Act

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) have introduced legislation that would help Americans find and keep employment through on-the-job training (OJT) programs. 
 

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen

“Today’s job market is changing rapidly and on-the-job training is an effective and efficient way to transition workers to new industries by giving them both a new job and new skills,” said Shaheen, a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “These programs are a cost-effective way to provide both training and a livable wage to workers who have fallen into unemployment. By working directly with employers, they exemplify the kind of public-private partnership our recovering economy needs.”
 
“On-the-job training programs are important for preparing workers for a changing and increasingly diverse job market.  Our legislation would provide enhanced resources for matching potential workers with employers who need qualified employees.  Mississippi is among the states that successfully use on-the-job training programs to ensure that industry, whether traditional or high-tech, has access to well-prepared workers,” Cochran said.
 
The On-the-Job Training Act of 2011 authorizes the Department of Labor to award competitive grants to establish and support local OJT programs.  OJT programs, which connect unemployed workers with jobs and provide employers with training subsidies, have a proven track record of helping unemployed workers gain new skills to find and retain employment. OJT programs also provide important incentives to small businesses to encourage job growth. The legislation is similar to a bill introduced by Shaheen and Cochran last year.
 
“I strongly support The On-the-Job Training Act of 2011 as a valuable way to get workers the training and jobs they need. Through on-the-job training, program participants gain workplace experience and have the opportunity to develop both the skills and personal relationships needed to get a job and keep it. I am grateful to Senators Shaheen and Cochran for their continued leadership,” said George Bald, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development.
 
The Shaheen-Cochran measure is also supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), CLASP, National Skills Coalition, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES), New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES).