Rochester Senator Joe Robach applauded Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s announcement that additional reform measures to strengthen the state’s Shared Work program that will help businesses avoid layoffs during short term financial difficulties. In 2012, employers using the Shared Work program saved 3,280 jobs. So far in 2013, 280 Shared Work plans have been approved saving an estimated 945 jobs.

The Shared Work program gives employers facing short term financial pressures an alternative to layoffs. Rather than lay off workers to cut costs, the program enables employers to reduce a worker’s hours and enable the worker to collect partial unemployment insurance benefits to make up for the lost wages. The program allows workers to keep their health insurance, retirement, vacation pay and other fringe benefits. The employer, in return, gets to keep the skilled and trained workers and avoids the high cost of re-hiring and re-training new employees when business picks back up.

The changes announced include:

· Increasing the number of weeks an employee can receive partial unemployment benefits – from 20 to 26
· Lowering the minimum number of employees a business must have on the payroll to qualify, from five to two
· Allowing part-time employees to be eligible for the program.

In addition, employers’ Unemployment Insurance (UI) accounts will not be charged for benefits paid to Shared Work participants and employers’ UI experience ratings will no longer be negatively affected by participating in Shared Work. These changes will save employers money in UI contributions paid. An employer pays more in UI contributions for a poorer rating.

Additional reform measures include:

· With few exceptions, (i.e. seasonal or temporary work), the federal government will be temporarily reimbursing the state for the benefits paid under this program. Through his legislation, the Governor has elected to pass that savings on to the participating New York employers.
· In most cases, retirement and fringe benefits will not be reduced.
· Shared Work employees may participate in employer sponsored training or training funded by the Workforce Investment Act.

Employers from across the state have benefited from the Shared Work job-saving program.

In the Finger Lakes region, 120 Shared Work plans were approved in 2012. A total of 2,030 workers participated, and the State Labor Department estimates that 530 jobs were saved.

According to Joe Robach, in an effort to find jobs, the Executive Office recently announced the expansion of a state program that helps unemployment insurance recipients start their own businesses.

Recipients of unemployment insurance benefits generally must demonstrate that they are actively seeking work to be eligible for assistance. Under New York’s Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), unemployed New Yorkers interested in launching their own businesses, rather than seeking other employment opportunities, are eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits and entrepreneurial training while they work full-time to start their own businesses. Joe Robach believes that this is a great way to help the unemployed work while also creating jobs for others.

Previously, an unemployment insurance beneficiary was only eligible to participate in SEAP during the first 26 weeks of receiving unemployment benefits. The Governor’s action extends eligibility for the program to those that have passed the 26 week mark, and are receiving Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC).

To enroll in the program, participants must have received at least 13 weeks of regular unemployment benefits or have 13 weeks of EUC remaining. Participants also must develop a business strategy, attend 20 hours of entrepreneurial training, meet with a business counselor at least twice and work full-time on starting their businesses.

In 2012, 586 unemployment insurance claimants participated in the SEAP, of which an estimated 363 started their own businesses.

Entrepreneurs can learn more about the SEAP by calling the State Labor Department at (888) 4-NYSDOL (888-469-7365).  For additional information about jobs initiatives, contact Joe Robach.

Rochester Senator Joe Robach applauded Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announcement that four job fairs will take place on Thursday, April 11 to connect job seekers with 250 businesses offering 5,000 jobs. Those who attend will have the opportunity to meet with businesses about potential job opportunities and take advantage of employment workshops offered by the state Department of Labor (DOL).

“Creating quality jobs and getting New Yorkers into those jobs remain our top priority,” Governor Cuomo said. “These state-sponsored job fairs are great opportunities for job seekers to meet with businesses from across the State that want to hire. I encourage New Yorkers, whether you’re unemployed or looking to make a career move, to sign up and attend one of these four events on Thursday.”

“Job fairs like these are just one service we provide to businesses at no cost to them,” said Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera. “For anyone – either business or jobseeker — unable to attend, I encourage you to visit our website and learn about the wealth of services we have available.”

Events are sponsored by the Department of Labor and the state Office of General Services.

All businesses participating in the career fairs list their job openings on Governor Cuomo’s “Jobs Express” website, located at www.jobs.ny.gov. Job seekers can post their resumes and search through nearly 70,000 jobs with positions available in every region of the state. Employers can use the website to search through submitted resumes and find highly qualified candidates in their own backyard. They can also post unlimited job openings at no cost. For more information, please call the state Department of Labor at 1-888-4-NYSDOL or visit www.labor.ny.gov.

Senator Joe Robach has teamed up with Monroe Community College, Time Warner Cable and the August Group to host a job fair of his own at Monroe Community College on June 6th from 2PM to 5PM at the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center. For more information, contact Senator Robach’s office.

Senator Joe Robach wants to ensure that every New Yorker has access to job training services that can help them succeed in a rapidly changing economy. That is why he just approved a new State Budget that includes key elements of his Blueprint for Jobs plan, ensuring record support for successful job training initiatives.  The new budget includes increased funding for workforce training. 

These workforce training programs include Next Generation Job Linkage Program: $5 million for the Next Generation Job Linkage Program that works with employers to identify the job, define the skill, and provide training for it; SUNY / CUNY Workforce Development Initiative: this initiative helps employers refine the skills of their new hires, while enabling more experienced employees to upgrade their skills; Workforce Development Institute (WDI): the WDI is a not for profit that works with businesses and the AFL-CIO to provide focused training for workers and workforce transition support to help prevent jobs from being outsourced to other states; and Community Colleges: the budget provides strong support for community colleges to ensure that young New Yorkers have access to the education and training they need to secure good, high paying jobs.

Senator Robach’s Blueprint for Jobs also included a provision that created a new tax credit for businesses that hire veterans returning home from active duty military service. That credit would equal ten percent of wages paid, increasing to fifteen percent of wages if the veteran is also disabled.

Senator Joe Robach recently voted in favor of a new New York State budget.  This new budget was not only passed on time for the third consecutive year, but it was also a budget that was terrific for small businesses.  Included in this year’s budget were key elements of the Robach supported Blueprint for Jobs initiative, a comprehensive plan to strengthen small businesses and work to create thousands of jobs across New York State.

To help New York’s small businesses, the new state budget includes tax relief for hundreds of thousands of small businesses that pay under the Personal Income Tax—providing a reduction in taxes they pay on business income; lower energy taxes, and new workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reforms; and improved access to low interest loans to support small business and high tech start ups.

The Blueprint for Jobs Initiative championed by Senator Robach and his majority conference was focused on ReThink. ReVitalize. ReBuild Jobs for New York.  Senator Robach is a long time supporter of local and state wide small businesses, and was supported by the National Federation of Independent Business in his last election.

Mark your calendars. Joe Robach will again partner with MCC, Time Warner Cable and the August Group to offer a job fair!

The fair will be held at Monroe Community College on June 6th from 2PM to 5PM at the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, Monroe A & B. Joe Robach’s office last partnered with MCC and the August Group on a career fair in December of 2012. Some of the vendors at the last career fair were: 5Linx Enterprise; Admar Supply Company; Aflac NY; Angelo Planning Group; Baldwin Richardson Foods; Berry Plastics; Concentrix; Conserve; DeCarolis Truck Rental; Roberts Wesleyan College; The College at Brockport; Sutherland Global Services; University of Rochester; Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County; The ARC of Monroe County; and many more. The event is free and open to the public. There is a small charge for employers who would like to participate. Joe Robach knows how many people are looking for a job and that is why he hosts this important fair – to link those seeking employment with local business managers looking for good people.

One very important partner of Joe Robach for this job fair is The August Group. The August Group is Rochester’s premier volunteer networking organization for individuals seeking employment or a career change. More specifically, The August Group is a volunteer organization committed to retaining local talent in the greater Rochester area by facilitating career and business networking for professionals. The August Group hosts weekly networking meetings for professionals at different locations, seminars and career fairs.

For those planning on attending the job fair, please bring several copies of your resume. If you need more information, contact Joe Robach’s office.

Joe Robach supports a variety of jobs programs for veterans in Rochester.

The first is at RochesterWorks! They work specifically with veterans on job readiness training as they search for employment. RochesterWorks! also works with other agencies across our area make referrals to other agencies through the employment process. For more information on this veterans job readiness program, contact RochesterWorks! Or the office of Joe Robach. The other agency that assists veterans find employment is the Veterans Outreach Center where Joe Robach has been alongtime supporter. The staff at the center, which has received recognition from the White House, last year placed three out of every four veterans into meaningful employment.

Joe Robach knows veterans are critical to the workforce because they bring leadership qualities and are able to adapt to different environments. For more information on other jobs programs or veterans issues, contact the office of Joe Robach.

Come to Joe Robach’s Job Fair on Thursday!  Joe Robach will again partner with MCC, Time Warner Cable and the August Group to offer a job fair! The fair will be held at Monroe Community College on Wednesday, December 13th from 2PM to 5PM at the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, Monroe A & B.

Joe Robach’s office last partnered with MCC and the August Group on a career fair in May of 2012. Some of the vendors at the last career fair were: 5Linx Enterprise; Admar Supply Company; Aflac NY; Angelo Planning Group; Baldwin Richardson Foods; Berry Plastics; Concentrix; Conserve; DeCarolis Truck Rental; Roberts Wesleyan College; The College at Brockport; Sutherland Global Services; University of Rochester; Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County; The ARC of Monroe County; and many more. The event is free and open to the public. There is a small charge for employers who would like to participate. Joe Robach knows how many people are looking for a job and that is why he hosts this important fair – to link those seeking employment with local business managers looking for good people.

One very important partner of Joe Robach for this job fair is The August Group. The August Group is Rochester’s premier volunteer networking organization for individuals seeking employment or a career change. More specifically, The August Group is a volunteer organization committed to retaining local talent in the greater Rochester area by facilitating career and business networking for professionals. The August Group hosts weekly networking meetings for professionals at different locations, seminars and career fairs.

For those planning on attending the job fair, please bring several copies of your resume. If you need more information, contact Joe Robach’s office.

The Governor recently announced that $2.9 million in grants have been awarded to help local municipalities and community organizations support and strengthen New York’s military installations in the face of looming defense cuts in Congress.  Joe Robach supports this announcement as  NYS military bases account for more than 10,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in economic impact.

The Military Base Retention grants are a part of the state’s efforts to safeguard New York’s National Guard capabilities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and to protect the economic and employment opportunities that major military facilities provide across the state. Service members from each of New York’s air bases were deployed during Hurricane Sandy.

New York State’s military installations continue to be threatened by federal budgetary constraints. The grants announced, supported by Joe Robach, will help promote, enhance and protect New York’s bases – state military bases account for more than 10,000 direct jobs with direct wages of $688 million and $1.9 billion of economic impact.

For more information on this or any other jobs initiative, contact the office of Joe Robach.

Governor today announced that the New York Bankers Association (NYBA) and the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) have agreed to establish a $10 million small business emergency loan fund to provide immediate financial assistance for businesses impacted by Storm Sandy. Under the fund, businesses will be able to apply for loans of up to $25,000 immediately by going to www.esd.ny.gov or calling 1-855-NYS-SANDY.  This is an iniative supported by Joe Robach as it will help small businesses affected by Sandy and, ultimately protect jobs.

The emergency loan program will provide low-interest loans of up to $25,000 to small businesses in an expedited manner to help in the recovery efforts. The New York Business Development Corporation will manage and operate the loan program in coordination with Empire State Development (ESD).

Through the program, small businesses in affected communities will be eligible to receive loans of up to $25,000 that will be interest and payment-free for the first six months and then at one percent interest for the following two years. Eligible businesses can use the funding to cover the costs of replacement and repairs to facilities or equipment or as working capital needed to restart or continue business operations.

The emergency loan program is for independently owned and operated businesses that have fewer than 100 employees and are located in the counties designated as disaster areas: Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, and the five boroughs of New York City.

To be eligible to receive funding through the program, companies must have filed 2011 business tax returns and have experienced direct damage or economic hardship as a result of Sandy. Applications will be available within the week and businesses are expected to begin to receive funding five to seven days after submitting a complete application and the required documentation.

Created in 1955, NYBDC is a consortium of banks committed to supporting economic development and job growth opportunities in New York State by providing government guaranteed and conventional loans to small businesses at all stages of development. NYBDC works with its member banks to provide creative, responsive and cost effective financing solutions when a conventional alternative is not available through long-term working capital, equipment, and real estate loans to a variety of businesses located in New York State, either in participation with, or as an adjunct to, the banking industry.

For more information about this or any other small business or jobs related initiative, please contact the office of Joe Robach.