Why Not Ohio? Conn. would waive student loans in 'green' jobs
| By Dennis Spisak - Mar 20, 2010 7:32:59 AM ET |
Why Not Ohio? Conn. would waive student loans in 'green' jobs
From the AP last week:
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By STEPHEN SINGER
HARTFORD, Conn. — Paul Goulet hopes Connecticut will help him get from under nearly $8,000 he's borrowed for college after losing his job in a paper manufacturing plant.
Goulet, 55, is a student in environmental studies at Goodwin College in East Hartford, aiming to find work in wastewater treatment. State legislation that would waive thousands of dollars in loans would benefit him and other students who earn degrees or certificates in green technology and other jobs.
"Everything I've taken out since October is on the student loan program," he said. "Any little bit would help, especially with the job market the way it is."
Loan forgiveness programs aren't new — states use them to entice medical professionals to rural areas, steer teachers to certain subject areas and attract farmers to local agriculture.
The legislation comes as the White House is emphasizing the importance of green works and job creation. President Barack Obama announced in January $2.3 billion in tax credits — to be paid for from last year's $787 billion stimulus package — that he said would create 17,000 green jobs. The money will go to projects including solar, wind and energy management.
Connecticut's proposal could break new ground. Trying to boost its work force in high-growth green technology, life sciences and health information technology, the state would annually forgive as much as $2,500 of federal and state education loans for up to four years, or 5 percent of loans, whichever is less.
To qualify, students must earn a bachelor's or associate's degree and work in Connecticut for at least two years.
Joan McDonald, economic development commissioner, said Connecticut is seeking to boost its population of young workers.
"What we're doing here is to encourage people to come here and stay here," she said.
The legislation, which would earmark $6 million, cites green technology, life science and health information technology because prospects are good for job growth in those industries and Connecticut is home to employers in fuel cell technology, pharmaceutical products and other high-tech industries, she said.
The bill is not a sure thing in the legislature. Members of the House-Senate Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement will decide by March 16 whether to bring it up for a vote, said Sen. Mary Ann Handley, co-chairwoman of the committee.
Retraining unemployed workers is the focus of another bill that would provide more immediate help to the jobless, she said.
"We need to think about what direction to go," Handley said.
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Why not Ohio? What is Ted Strickland doing to keep Green jobs and students in Ohio?
Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor
Vote in the Green Party Primary on May 4th!
Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/
Http://www.dennisspisak.com
for more info: contact 330-503-1407
From the AP last week:
===================================================
By STEPHEN SINGER
HARTFORD, Conn. — Paul Goulet hopes Connecticut will help him get from under nearly $8,000 he's borrowed for college after losing his job in a paper manufacturing plant.
Goulet, 55, is a student in environmental studies at Goodwin College in East Hartford, aiming to find work in wastewater treatment. State legislation that would waive thousands of dollars in loans would benefit him and other students who earn degrees or certificates in green technology and other jobs.
"Everything I've taken out since October is on the student loan program," he said. "Any little bit would help, especially with the job market the way it is."
Loan forgiveness programs aren't new — states use them to entice medical professionals to rural areas, steer teachers to certain subject areas and attract farmers to local agriculture.
The legislation comes as the White House is emphasizing the importance of green works and job creation. President Barack Obama announced in January $2.3 billion in tax credits — to be paid for from last year's $787 billion stimulus package — that he said would create 17,000 green jobs. The money will go to projects including solar, wind and energy management.
Connecticut's proposal could break new ground. Trying to boost its work force in high-growth green technology, life sciences and health information technology, the state would annually forgive as much as $2,500 of federal and state education loans for up to four years, or 5 percent of loans, whichever is less.
To qualify, students must earn a bachelor's or associate's degree and work in Connecticut for at least two years.
Joan McDonald, economic development commissioner, said Connecticut is seeking to boost its population of young workers.
"What we're doing here is to encourage people to come here and stay here," she said.
The legislation, which would earmark $6 million, cites green technology, life science and health information technology because prospects are good for job growth in those industries and Connecticut is home to employers in fuel cell technology, pharmaceutical products and other high-tech industries, she said.
The bill is not a sure thing in the legislature. Members of the House-Senate Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement will decide by March 16 whether to bring it up for a vote, said Sen. Mary Ann Handley, co-chairwoman of the committee.
Retraining unemployed workers is the focus of another bill that would provide more immediate help to the jobless, she said.
"We need to think about what direction to go," Handley said.
===================================================
Why not Ohio? What is Ted Strickland doing to keep Green jobs and students in Ohio?
Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor
Vote in the Green Party Primary on May 4th!
Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/
Http://www.dennisspisak.com
for more info: contact 330-503-1407
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