Sen. Linares: Thurs. Hearing on “Learn Here, Live Here” Bill; Provides Grads With Start-Up Business Incentive

Sen. Art Linares (at right) toured Chester-based Aero-Cision in February. Sen. Linares is backing a measure which provides an incentive for students who graduate from Connecticut colleges or technical schools to establish a new business in the state.

Sen. Art Linares is co-sponsoring a legislative proposal which aims to establish a “Learn Here, Live Here” program to provide an incentive for students who graduate from Connecticut colleges or technical schools to establish a new business in the state.

Under the proposal, students who graduate from colleges or technical schools in Connecticut after January 1, 2014, may deposit up to $2500 annually into the “Learn Here, Live Here” account.

Up to 10 years after graduation, that money may be withdrawn by a participant for the establishment of a new business in the state.

The “Learn Here, Live Here” bill receives a public hearing by the legislature’s Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 7. The bill is House Bill 5017: An Act Concerning the Learn here, Live Here Program and Business Creation.

“We want to do all we can to get students to stay in Connecticut after graduation,” Sen. Linares said. “We also want to do all we can to get them to consider starting businesses of their own. Allowing young people to make these investments in their futures will help them pay for start-up costs associated with the establishment of a new business. This proposal sends the message to young people that their state wants them to be innovators and entrepreneurs. I believe it will go a long way to help create jobs.”

Sen. Linares co-founded a successful small business when he was 19.

“Connecticut loses more people between the ages of 18 and 34 than almost any other state,” Sen. Linares said. “This bill is one way to help stem the tide.”

Sen. Linares plans to reach out to high schools and vocational-technical schools throughout the area to raise awareness about the rewards of choosing manufacturing careers. He has proposed a variety of pro-business legislation, including the elimination of the state’s business entity tax.

Sen. Linares (www.senatorlinares.com) can be reached at [email protected] or at (800) 842 1421. He represents Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.