Small Biz Credit, Job Training & Future Research Get Boosts (DENVER) - As the daily economic news darkens, House Democrats announced the rare bit of good news: three bills designed to bolster Colorado’s economy and create jobs passed out of House committees.
Senate Bill 67 establishes the Colorado Credit Reserve Program which will increase the availability of loans to small businesses to help them expand, meet payroll, and create jobs. Co-sponsored by Sen. Rollie Heath( D-Boulder) and Rep. Don Marostica (R-Loveland), Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) led the bill to unanimous passage in the House Business Affairs Committee.
“A small state investment guarantees a pool of up to $50 million in new loans to small businesses,” said Rep. Gagliardi. “Loans of up to $500,000 will be made available for job creation in a time when small businesses desperately need access to capital.”
House Bill 171, New Energy Economy Job Training, offers targeted funding for community colleges to work directly with new energy companies to create customized job training programs. The House Transportation & Energy Committee unanimously endorsed HB 171, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), Rep. Nancy Todd (D-Aurora), and Rep. Edward Vigil (D-Alamosa).
Senate Bill 31, the Clean Technology Discover Grant Program sponsored Sen. Heath and Rep. Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley) advances research and the development of clean technology. As amended, the program will now be funded by gifts, grants and donations. The bill “sets up the framework” so that if money becomes available in the future, it can be easily directed to these ends.
Rep. Riesberg said, “Colorado is known for its tremendous research capability. We always produce big results from small investments.”
SB 31 passed out of the House Transportation & Energy Committee unanimously.
-- Posted by Staff