Press Releases

Binghamton, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19) today announced the introduction of the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act. This bipartisan bill will relieve the workforce shortage for local small businesses by assisting them in offering apprenticeships and on-the-job training opportunities for their workers. Rep. Molinaro introduced the bill alongside U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D, CO-06), Maria Salazar (R, FL-27), and Shri Thanedar (D, MI-13).

At the end of 2022, there were over 11 million unfilled jobs in the United States. The Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) currently provide a suite of counseling and training services to support small businesses in Upstate New York and across the county. To help small businesses fill open positions with qualified workers amid the workforce shortage, Rep. Molinaro’s bipartisan bill directs SBDCs to establish and improve apprenticeship and training programs.

Rep. Molinaro said, “Small businesses in Upstate New York have open jobs, but are having difficulty filling these positions. We need to tackle the workforce shortage by connecting workers to the open jobs we have. That’s why I’m introducing the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act. This bipartisan bill directs the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to inform small businesses about apprenticeship and work-based learning programs.”

Rep. Crow said, “I introduced the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act to ensure Colorado remains a strong small business state by investing in apprenticeships and on-the-job learning opportunities for our workers. This bipartisan legislation would bring more opportunities for our workers to reskill and upskill and combat the labor shortage that holds our small businesses back.”