Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced that the Assembly’s 2013-14 budget proposal includes a new jobs initiative, funding for small-business programs and an extension of the NY Youth Works program deadline (E.182).

“This year’s budget proposal focuses on what Monroe County’s hardworking families need,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “It helps create jobs, saves our small businesses money, gets people back to work and extends the deadline for the important NY Youth Works program.”

Small-business programs

In order to strengthen small-business growth, the Assembly budget proposal includes $12.5 million for the Small Businesses Revolving Loan Fund and $500,000 for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Outreach and Technical Assistance.

The proposal also restores $365,000 in additional support for the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Development and Lending Programs for a total of $1 million.

“Giving small businesses the opportunity to grow is a key factor in our economic recovery,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “They provide good-paying jobs in Monroe County and help our economy flourish.”

New jobs initiatives

The Assembly budget proposal provides $100 million for a new jobs initiative. Funding would go toward reconstruction of communities, advanced manufacturing and certification assistance, and education and job training for science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

“If we want New York to become a leader in the high tech industry, we have to have the workforce to support it,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “The Assembly budget includes provisions to make sure that we can educate our workforce so that they have the skills they need to pioneer new technology here in Monroe County.”

Extending the NY Youth Works program deadline

The NY Youth Works program provides disadvantaged youth with job opportunities and offers tax credits to businesses that hire eligible youth. The 2013-14 Assembly budget extends the deadline for business participation to November 2014 and the deadline for employees to start work to December 2014.

“The NY Youth Works program is a critical one in Monroe County,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “Extending the business participation deadline will enable more businesses to take part and continue to give our youth the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.”