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Workforce development has become a hallmark of community economic development, and the term encompasses the activities, policies, and programs that work to connect occupational skills and vocational training services with the economy’s actual need for workers. There are many strategies that states and regions employ to develop and maintain a skilled workforce, but the State […]
Continue ReadingWith the conclusion of the State Business Incentives Database summer update, the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) will be publishing a series of blog posts. These blog posts will explore new and topical trends and provide analysis concerning how state incentive programs have changed. This inaugural post focuses on general trends and how […]
Continue ReadingState Incentives: SSBCI Program Recap and Overview In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act, which created the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Functioning as a recovery response to the Great Recession, it delivered $1.5 billion in capital to small businesses. Federally, SSBCI phased out in 2017. Nevertheless, after more […]
Continue ReadingTo ensure equitable access to broadband internet and spur economic development in underserved communities, many states offer incentive programs to for-profit businesses, local governments, and/or non-profit organizations to expand broadband internet access throughout the state. The incentives can take a variety of forms. Some states offer specific tax credits relating to broadband infrastructure development, like […]
Continue ReadingBy Chelsea Thomson Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, states incentivized employers to support those out of work and provide opportunities for occupational advancement, especially for marginalized communities and ones characterized by historic divestment. These programs are crucial for getting people back into the labor market and providing the opportunities for reskilling and […]
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