June 11, 2014

EAST HARTFORD LEGISLATORS HOST STEP-UP BUSINESS, JOBS PROGRAM

EAST HARTFORD – State Reps. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) and Tim Larson (D-East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor) joined Department of Labor Commissioner Sharon Palmer and other state officials, including Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Wednesday to host a Subsidized Training and Employment Program (Step-UP) at Goodwin College.

State Reps. Henry Genga and Tim Larson meet with Rosemary Ortiz, of All Healing Hands International LLC, a Berlin-based company that provides home care and companion services, at the Step-Up conference in East Hartford.

The conference was geared toward informing small businesses about the variety of state hiring incentives, tax credits and other programs that are available as they work to expand and grow their businesses.

“Small business is the engine that drives our economy and we have to do everything we can to help companies grow and provide job opportunities for Connecticut,” Genga said. “Local businesses are the backbone of the community and helping them is a win-win for everyone.”

“I was very pleased to co-sponsor the STEP-Up conference because it’s designed for our area employers to learn first-hand about the variety of resources that are available to help them hire the people they need and to grow their businesses,” Larson said.

The legislators encouraged businesses to contact the following conference speakers and their offices for further information or assistance about programs available to companies:

• Wage and training reimbursement grants under the STEP UP and VETS STEP UP Programs: Janet Gemmiti, Team Lead STEP UP, Capital Workforce Partners at jgemmiti@capitalworkforce.org or (860) 899-3445.
  
  
• More wage and training reimbursements: Zahra Jolly, Employment Consultant, Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitative Services at Zahra.jolly@ct.gov or (860) 612-3581.

• Find and recruit new employees and the Incumbent Worker Program: Donna Smith, Business Services Representative, Connecticut Department of Labor @ donna.smith@ct.gov or (860) 256-3869.
  
  
• The benefits of hiring Veterans: Veasna Roeun, Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Office for Veterans Workforce Development, Connecticut Department of Labor at Veasna.roeun@ct.gov or (203) 455-2713.
  
  
• Training opportunities for manufacturing: Deidre Moutinho, Student Recruitment/Retention Specialist, Connecticut Board of Regents Advanced Manufacturing Center, Naugatuck Community College at dmoutinho@nvcc.commnet.edu or (203) 575-8014.
  
  
• How to integrate the new Access Health CT Program into your business: Phil Boyle, Business to Business Outreach Manager - Access Health CT at phil.boyle@ct.gov or (860) 757-5329.
  
  
• Bidding on State Contracts: Devin Marquez, Assistant Director/Staff Attorney, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services at devin.marquez@ct.gov or (860) 713-5381 or Carol Wilson, Director of the Procurement Division at carol.wilson@ct.gov or (860) 713-5093.
  
  
• Starting and growing your business: University of Connecticut Small Business Development Center at www.ctsbdc.com or (860) 486-4270 – Mary Kay Della Camera, Intake Supervisor/Office Manager.
  
  
• Tax exemptions to support your business: Sharon Walters, Revenue Examiner 3, Operations Bureau Business Taxes Team 3, Connecticut Department of Revenue Services at Sharon.walters@po.state.ct.us or (860) 541-4584.
  
  
• Federal financial help to grow your business: Cheryl McClellan, Trade Specialist, United States Department of Commerce at Cheryl.mcclellan@trade.gov or (860) 638-6951.