Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Debbe Leftwich
Senate District 44
Oklahoma County

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For Immediate Release: March 6, 2006

Senator Debbe Leftwich

Senate Passes Bill to Provide Training Dollars to Oklahoma Companies

SB 2047 Will Allow Small Businesses in Rural Oklahoma to Upgrade Employee Skills

A bill that will strengthen small businesses across Oklahoma through greater access to training dollars to upgrade the skills of existing workers won the approval of the full Senate today. Senate Bill 2047, by State Senator Debbe Leftwich will allow the Department of Commerce to utilize $20 million from the
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to expand the Existing Worker Training Program that has already proven successful in fulfilling the training needs of companies throughout Oklahoma.

“This is a very pro-business, pro-growth bill, but more importantly this is a pro-Oklahoma bill,” Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City) said. “SB 2047 has the support of the Department of Commerce, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development and is backed by the State Chamber of Commerce.”

Leftwich said currently the program utilizes $1 million of federal funds to benefit more than 30 companies that are upgrading the skills of their employees, which she says is essential to remaining competitive in today’s growing global economy.

“Imagine the message we will be sending to our small business owners and other companies throughout this state by redirecting $20 million for their training needs,” Leftwich said. “The message will be loud and clear that Oklahoma is a business friendly state and we believe in investing in our workforce.”

Leftwich said the bill does not add any news costs to companies that do business in Oklahoma, rather it redirects monies that businesses currently already pay in unemployment insurance costs to be used for the training of their own workforce.

“This bill strengthens small businesses by allowing companies that might not otherwise be able to afford to upgrade the skills of their workforce to do so with the very money they already pay in unemployment insurance costs,” Leftwich said. “If we want to attract new companies to Oklahoma and keep the companies that are already located here, we must give businesses the tools they need to be successful.
That begins with ensuring that their employees are as skilled and trained in the newest technology as possible.”

Leftwich said businesses in rural Oklahoma and in urban communities, such as Michelin North America in Ardmore, Goodyear Tire and Rubber in western Oklahoma, and OMG Tooling in Oklahoma City, and CM Trailers in Madill have all utilized the program in the past to retrain their employees.

“We have a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure that our citizens are ready to compete in this ever changing global economy,” Leftwich concluded. “SB 2047 is good for Oklahoma citizens, good for Oklahoma businesses and will lead to a stronger Oklahoma economy.”

For more information contact:
Senator Leftwich's Office - (405) 521-5557