Press Release

February 22, 2010
SENATOR CARDIN TALKS JOBS WITH BALTIMORE-AREA SMALL BUSINESS LEADERS
Senator also meets with students who are learning new job skills


BALTIMORE —
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today visited the University of Maryland BioPark where he met with Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) students who are attending the Life Sciences Institute and are preparing for careers in the Maryland’s growing health and life science sectors. The Senator also addressed Baltimore-area small business leaders about the economy and the need to provide small businesses with the resources they need to succeed and create jobs, particularly in this difficult economic environment.



 


Since FY 2008, the University of Maryland BioPark has received more than $800,000 in funds requested by Senator Cardin to further develop Baltimore’s pipeline of well-trained workers for the hundreds of jobs being created in the BioPark and throughout the region. The BioPark will employ as many as 2,500 when it is completed.
 



 




 “Employers need workers who have the skills and training that are required for highly specialized, technical jobs,” said
Senator Cardin, a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. “Our nation’s economic growth depends on job creation and ensuring that our businesses have the resources they need to succeed.
  Part of that challenge is to make sure our workforce receives the training that is needed for the 21
st Century job market.”



 


The Senator also talked about the legislation he recently introduced to help small businesses.
  The

Boosting Entrepreneurship and New Jobs Act
(S. 2967) would spur job creation and strengthen our economy by providing credits and direct loans to small businesses.
  The bill also would provide urgently needed capital to small businesses, establish a refundable small business tax credit for job creation and provide a tax credit for health insurance expenses for companies with up to 25 employees.



 


The Life Sciences Institute combines state-of-the-art facilities for the BCCC biotechnology, environmental science and arts and sciences programs, providing customized training to meet workforce needs.
 A total of 10 private biotech enterprises currently share space at the BioPark along with the Life Sciences Institute.
 

X