Legislature passes training program linking colleges with business needs

OLYMPIA – State community colleges will provide the link between better career opportunities for students and better trained workers for Washington businesses, thanks to legislation passed tonight by the state Legislature.

Senate Bill 6326 pairs businesses with community colleges to develop customized work force training programs at little or no up-front cost to the business under a program in which the business ultimately reimburses the state.

“This program will prepare Washingtonians for valuable careers and help our businesses grow at the same time,” said Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, bill sponsor and chair of the Senate International Trade & Economic Development Committee. “Once others see what we’re doing, it will make Washington more attractive to businesses outside the state as well.”

SB 6326 creates the Washington Customized Employment Workforce Training program and establishes a $3.15 million account from which the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will award training grants to businesses that set up agreements with local training institutions. Participating businesses would pay back one-fourth of the training costs upon the completion of training and the remaining three-fourths within 18 months. The businesses will also receive a business-and-occupation tax credit of half what they pay for employee training conducted through this program.

To qualify, businesses must increase their employment in the state by at least 75 percent of the trainees in the training program.

A similar program in Iowa has created more than 3,000 jobs since 1983; Shin’s plan has the capacity to train up to 1,000 workers a year.

SB 6326 passed the Senate and the House of Representatives and now awaits the signature of the governor.

Return to Senator Shin's home page