Sylvia Larsen for NH Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 12, 2010
Contact: Senate President Sylvia Larsen
(603) 271-2111

CONCORD – Senate President Sylvia Larsen said she is encouraged by a series of informal meetings she held earlier this week to explore ways to add jobs and help the unemployed in New Hampshire.

Larsen (D-Concord) invited representatives from the state Division of Parks, the Department of Employment Security, AmeriCorps, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Workforce Opportunity Council and the Student Conservation Association on Tuesday to explore ways to create jobs and improve the state parks as outlined in a the newly developed 10-year parks plan.

Among other things, she asked those in attendance to investigate what federal or other resources may be available to hire people to upgrade state parks. She also asked Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon to explore whether the state could allow unemployed construction workers to continue to receive unemployment benefits while volunteering for parks projects and training younger workers.

“Obviously paying jobs are our first choice and we’re looking at what funds might be available from federal programs. But we may also be able to offer continued unemployment benefits to workers in the construction trades who are willing to use their skills to make our state parks a better place and train younger people,” Larsen said.

Larsen also met Tuesday with the director of the Human Resources State Council of New Hampshire to explore ways that the state’s human resources professionals can work with the state Department of Employment Security to help unemployed workers get information and advice about potential job openings, training, resume building and job hunting skills.

She noted that some of the state’s human resources professionals already were volunteering their services in this area.

“These meetings were really brainstorming sessions. Our goal is to create links between our state agencies and the people in our community with special skills and talents to spark those synergies that can lead to new jobs and improve the prospects for people who are unemployed. I want to continue to bring people together to explore every avenue for job creation and economic growth,” Larsen said.

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