Kent County Times

Washington, D.C. – On May 4, 2023, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced that he has co-sponsored H.R. 1730, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act, to require the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist small business owners in hiring graduates of career and technical education (CTE) programs. The bipartisan legislation also seeks to help CTE graduates start their own small businesses. 

The bill will amend the Small Business Act to direct Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to increase their services to assist small businesses in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs. The bill also supports career and technical education graduates by directing SBDCs and WBCs to assist them in starting up a small business.

“Career and technical education programs are helping to train Rhode Island students for high paying careers, but too often, these young workers have a hard time identifying and connecting with local employers,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “From nursing to construction, Rhode Island businesses are in need of specialized workers. I’m proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to help recent career and technical education graduates get hired by local small businesses, as well as support graduates seeking to explore their own entrepreneurial pursuits.”

The Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act is being led by Reps. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Chris Coons (D-DE). The bill has also been endorsed by the Association for Career and Technical Education.

Original source can be found here.