Bayh Seeks Training Funds for Small Business

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) says wants to spend $2 billion to help the nations small businesses train workers. He made the announcement during his third annual job fair in Indianapolis Thursday. The Bayh-Peterson job fair boasted 70 companies trying to fill some 2,700 current job openings. Employers say the in-person events are a vital way to let people know exactly what positions theyre trying to fill. Theyre very vital because we do need people all the time, especially our part-time cargo handling positions and wed like for people to know we have an excellent benefits package, said Kevyn Cameron, Federal Express. Billy Humphrey is just out of the Air Force and was one of thousands of job seekers hoping to land employment. I moved back to Indianapolis. My friends and family and everyone are here; looking to make that transition from military to civilian life and do it in the city that I want to live in, he said. It didnt take others long to find a lead. I already have an appointment Friday to go with TCU, Teachers Credit Union, so right now Im excited about that, said Pashula McKinney. For some, qualifications could be a sticking point. It would be a lot easier to find a job if I had a master’s. But for having a bachelor’s degree theres a fair amount of businesses that turned out today who are looking to hire a lot of people, said Katie Craney, a recent college graduate. The Indianapolis Private Industry Council presented Senator Bayh with the Hope Award for his efforts to find Hoosiers jobs. Bayh told the group many people focus too much on Fortune 500 companies. Bayh says 60 to 80 percent of Indianas jobs are created by small business. When Congress reconvenes Im going to introduce legislation that will help defray the cost of training the workers for small business help small businesses meet their health care costs that hold them back to often, make it easier for them to open up pension programs for their employees, said Bayh.