AUGUSTA - Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, introduced legislation Tuesday that would change the Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Revolving Loan Program to a grant program and increase the maximum allowable distribution of funds to eligible immigrants from the current $700 to $1,000.
"For at least the past 10 years, the Maine Department of Labor has been warning of declining numbers of available workers as working-age Mainers continue to leave the state, retire and age out of the workforce," said Cloutier. "One of the solutions available to us to help ease the worker shortage is to make sure those who are of working age can enter the labor force at their highest potential."
The loan program, administered by the Finance Authority of Maine, currently provides loans to assist asylum seekers in becoming more prepared to enter the workforce. This includes taking driver's education courses, taking English language proficiency examinations, translating foreign education and experience credentials and more.
"Eligible immigrants should not need to worry about taking out a loan and starting off their lives in the United States in debt," said Cloutier. "Shifting to grants will dramatically increase the programs utilization, benefiting those pursuing work permits and the employers who will later put their many talents to work."
The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business will hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks.
Cloutier is the assistant House majority leader and is currently serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 94, which includes part of Lewiston, her hometown.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Cloutier], 305-965-2744