Friday, January 28, 2022
Since the pandemic began, Indiana has seen a significant worker shortage across the state, especially in rural communities. Since remote work has become more prolific in the past few years, incentives for Hoosiers to reside in their communities where their jobs are has declined.
Senate Bill 4 would create the Workforce Retention and Recruitment program, which would allow local units of government the option to help attract and retain employees for continued business in the community. The funds from this program could support financial resources such as grants and loans for Indiana college graduates, as well as individuals who live in or relocate to a community for work, agree to work remotely or agree to work for an Indiana company.
Workers who move to a community under this program, along with the generations that come after, would spend much of their income in the local community, helping the area's economy grow.
Given the $500 million statewide investment from last year's Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) Program, SB 4 could be the next step in giving local units of government the resources needed to expand their workforce for the coming improvements.
SB 4 passed the Senate unanimously and will now move to the House of Representatives.
To learn more about this bill and others being considered this session, click here.
