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Over 5,000 Granite Staters Join Rep. Pappas’s Jobs and Workforce Resource Fair

July 28, 2021

On Tuesday, July 27th Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the bipartisan House Small Business Caucus, hosted a jobs and workforce resource fair to share information about the state and federal opportunities available for employers and workers in the Granite State. This virtual and telephone event drew over 5,000 Granite Staters from throughout the First District to learn more about employment opportunities, education, and apprenticeships. The panelists also took several questions from constituents submitted online.

Rep. Pappas was joined by George Copadis, the Commissioner of the NH Department of Employment Security; Beth Doiron and Becky Lewis, Directors at the Community College System of NH; and Mike Smith, President of the New Hampshire Building Trades Union.

"As we continue to work to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, it's important that for government at all levels to support and strong workforce and identify opportunities for New Hampshire workers and businesses," said Congressman Pappas. "That's why I was pleased to be joined by workforce, education, and labor leaders to provide Granite State workers and employers with the information and resources they need to get a job, hire employees, or seek out training and apprenticeship programs."

"Community colleges really are by design an ideal place from which to build relationships with employers, and also to assist individuals with workforce entry and resources," said Becky Lewis, Statewide Workforce Development Director at the Community College System of New Hampshire.

"The Community College System of New Hampshire has seven community colleges across New Hampshire along with seven academic centers, making all of our community colleges accessible to pretty much every New Hampshire resident within 30 to 45 minutes, and also employers seeking any training opportunities they may have for their businesses," said Beth Doiron, Director of College Access & DOE Programs at Community College System of New Hampshire.

"Building Trades represent approximately 15 construction trades - these are the men and women who build the bridges, buildings, roads, dams, power plants, all of the construction that you see in New Hampshire all the time," said Mike Smith, President of the New Hampshire Building Trades Union. "All the building trades are in the same boat: we're all trying to attract the same men and women who are looking for good employment opportunities. It's a great time to be looking for work. It's incumbent upon us to make sure that the working men and women know about us and the opportunities we can provide."

A recording of the call with resources and information can be accessed here.

Background:

Congressman Pappas has held 15 telephone town halls since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching over 100,000 Granite Staters.

Pappas supported the CARES Act which created the Paycheck Protection Program that has helped save over 100,000 New Hampshire small business jobs. The CARES Act also provided enhanced unemployment benefits to Granite Staters out of work due to the pandemic. Pappas also worked to pass the American Rescue Plan that bolstered small business lending programs and provided direct assistance to tens of thousands of First District families.

Last Congress, Pappas supported the Homeland Procurement Reform Act which directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that procurement of certain items, such as body armor and other protective gear, meets specified requirements, including that a fraction of procurement funds be used for items manufactured in part or provided by U.S. small businesses.

Additionally, as part of pandemic relief initiatives in the House, Pappas introduced and worked to pass an amendment that encouraged the Department of Commerce to support manufacturing companies whose supply chains have been disrupted by COVID-19 through the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) program.