Priority legislation was introduced in the House this week to establish and fund three new workforce development programs. House Bill 2 would complement the OMA’s workforce development strategy with a heavy focus on industry sector partnerships and industry recognized credentials. The legislation would provide $32.5 million in state funding in FY 2020 and FY 2021 for the three programs. The following is a breakdown of the bill’s program spending:

• TechCred Program — $15 million a year ($14.7 million for employer assistance and $300,000 for administrative costs) to reimburse employers for training current or prospective employees who receive a micro-credential.
• Individual Micro-Credential Assistance Program — $15 million a year ($14.7 million for employer assistance and $300,000 for administrative costs) to provide grants to individuals to pay for the costs of training to earn a micro-credential.
• Industry Sector Partnerships Program — $2.5 million a year to support regional partnerships across the state, including a grant program to develop the partnerships and promote their mission.

See the full summary of HB 2 here. 5/16/2019