FEINGOLD
DISCUSSES “E4” INITIATIVE DURING OCONTO COUNTY LISTENING SESSION
Initiative Aims to Boost Small Business Innovation, Support Job Growth
In the Emerging Energy Sector, Enhance Workforce Development, And Build
New Education Partnerships
September 4, 2008
Oconto Falls – During his Oconto County listening session today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold discussed his recently launched “E4” Initiative, an effort to fuel job creation and enhance workforce development efforts. Feingold’s initiative – dubbed “E4” because of its focus on Economy, Employment, Education, and Energy – will include legislation to boost small business innovation, support job growth in the emerging energy sector, enhance workforce development, and build new education partnerships. Next week, Feingold will officially introduce a package of legislation in the Senate that takes a multi-faceted approach toward job creation and economic development.
“Wisconsin has tremendous potential for new growth if we can harness our innovative new ideas and our workforce to strengthen the state’s economy,” Feingold said. “With a multi-faceted approach, we will create new opportunities and lead the way – nationally and globally – to address emerging challenges. Wisconsin’s unique strengths and resources are a cause for optimism.”
Feingold’s E4 Initiative will address the following areas:
- Boosting Small Business Innovation – Congress can do more to
support small business innovation. For example, Wisconsin small businesses
focusing on water technologies are in prime position to help the region,
country and planet address the grave problem of a lack of clean water.
Feingold is proposing to increase federal funding for small business
research and development, and to prioritize work in energy, water, transportation
and domestic security – top national priorities where Wisconsin
has a strategic advantage.
- Supporting Job Growth in the Emerging Energy Sector – With skyrocketing
energy prices, we should be prospecting for energy saving technologies.
Businesses, schools, and builders of all kind are looking for ways to
make buildings more energy efficient, conserve energy, and expand renewables,
creating a huge demand in the emerging energy sector for jobs –
jobs that are far more likely to stay right here in America. Feingold
will continue working to advance Green Jobs efforts and energy efficiency
programs.
- Workforce Development – We must help Wisconsin’s strong
and able workforce find jobs in existing and emerging areas of the economy,
and help businesses locate these qualified workers. Feingold’s
initiative will seek to expand awareness of and access to existing skills
standards so more people are prepared and certified to work in emerging
fields. The initiative will also strengthen transportation opportunities
to help connect these workers to the businesses that need them.
- Building New Education Partnerships – With a number of communities confronting staggering high school dropout rates we should find ways to better engage teenagers in learning. One way is to get them interested in new and exciting career paths in emerging industries and give them opportunities to explore those paths, whether they are going onto college or directly into the workforce. Feingold’s initiative focuses on helping schools, businesses, and others collaborate on improved ways to teach our students skills that they can use in our region’s emerging industries.
Feingold’s listening session was held
at the Oconto Falls Municipal Building in Oconto Falls. The listening
session was Feingold’s 60th of 2008 and 1140th since 1993.