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200 x 2020 Workforce Development Initiative
Awarded $150,000 in Tax Credits by NHCDFA
More than $5.4 million has been awarded through the Community Development Finance Authority Tax Credit Program to sixteen New Hampshire organizations for projects which make local communities thrive and become more resilient. The CDFA Board of Directors has approved the funding – in the form of state tax credits – for projects from Nashua to Lisbon and Keene to Portsmouth. The tax credits allow for nearly $42 million in leverage for these projects. In the Lakes Region, $150,000 in tax credits was awarded to the Belknap County Economic Development Council toward the 200x2020 workforce development collaborative.
The 200 x 2020 Initiative is an exciting new project aimed at connecting local kids with opportunities to experience the world of work while they are young. It is a collaborative effort of the Lakes Region United Way, Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Belknap County Economic Development Council, Lakes Region Community College, Huot Technical Center, Meredith’s Career Partnerships Program, NHWorks, and many school-to-career coordinators and guidance counselors from our local schools. The goal of the partnership is to get a minimum of 200 businesses signed on by 2020 to provide local students access to a full range of vocational, technical and occupational experiences throughout the school years to support our region’s long-term workforce development needs. This initiative will help ensure that all Lakes Region businesses have
access to a qualified and well-trained workforce.
With a $15,000 grant from the Samuel P. Pardoe Foundation, 200 x 2020 is currently working to build a Lakes Region internship and job shadow database for high school students. This tool will be made available to all the high schools in our region starting in the fall of 2012. The goal is to develop at least 30 internships or job shadows at local companies this summer and to continue growing the database into a searchable, on-line tool with many more internship and job shadow opportunities available in the future. While the initial focus is on programming at the high school level, we will develop programming for students at other grade levels in subsequent years.
With this additional $150,000 in tax credits awarded, the 200 x 2020 is looking to develop more business partners. Your participation is a direct investment in the future of your business and the Lakes Region. If you would like information on the Lakes Region workforce development initiative, tax credit opportunities, hosting a student intern or creating a job shadow opportunity at your company, please contact Karmen Gifford, Executive Director of Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce at 603.524.5531 or Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of Belknap County Economic Development Council at 603.524.3057.
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