Building Our Skilled Workforce and Temporary Protected Status Deadlines

August 31, 2023


 

My colleagues and I passed key legislation that will support our workforce. Please read below to find out how those measures will attract more businesses to our great state.

Some re-registration deadlines are coming up for those who have Temporary Protected Status from four countries. You will find more information on that below.

And some women-owned businesses may be eligible for a $10,000 grant. There is a full break down on who is eligible and how to apply below.

You can click on any of these links to jump to that section of the email:
 

Building On Our Skilled Workforce
During the 2023 legislative session, we successfully passed a number of measures, which will enhance and support our skilled workforce and make our state more attractive for companies and new businesses.
 
These new initiatives in diverse fields including education, aviation, healthcare, and first responders seek to attract the best talent from within and beyond to create a top-notch workforce.

Below are some highlights of the work we accomplished this past session:

Public Act 23-97 is a multifaceted step forward for those in the medical fields.
Additional measures include:
 
Public Act 23-167:
  • Expands school-based apprenticeship opportunities in aviation and aerospace
  • Builds on training for future paraeducators
  • Offers dual credit/enrollment opportunities
  • Creates prosecutor apprenticeships for law school students
  • Creates tax credits and incentives for towns and businesses that build and/or develop housing set aside for specific workforces including teachers, police officers, and firefighters.

A skilled workforce is one of the foundations of a robust economy. My colleagues and I are committed to strengthening our current and future workers by providing the necessary tools to help them thrive and succeed.
 

Temporary Protected Status Deadlines
The Department of Homeland Security is reminding anyone who has Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, or Nicaragua that they must re-register to maintain their status. TPS holders from those four countries must submit forms and follow all federal guidelines including respective fees for each country. Below are re-registration deadlines for those TPS holders:
  • El Salvador: Sunday, September 10, 2023
  • Nepal: October 24, 2023 through December 23, 2023
  • Honduras & Nicaragua: November 6, 2023 through January 5, 2024

To learn more, you can visit U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services’ TPS webpage. To re-register, you will need to file form I-821 and for continued work authorization, form I-765.
 

Support For Women-Owned Businesses

Time is running out to apply for the next round of the Women's Business Development Council’s (WBDC) Equity Match Grant Program. The deadline is September 27.

The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in Connecticut that have been in business for two or more years and have revenues between $25k and $2 million. 
Since the start of the program, WBDC has distributed 216 grants of over $2 million to women-owned businesses in Connecticut.
Click Here To Apply!