FY 2016 Proposed State ED Budget Cuts

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As data from the proposed FY2016 State Budgets are released, C2ER has been updating the C2ER State Economic Development Program Expenditures Database.  The proposed budgets provide information on eliminated programs and decreased funding for economic development financing, with many affecting small business development related programs.

Back on February 18, we highlighted trends in MD, NE, and CA. Here are highlights from Alaska, California, and Maryland:

  •  Alaska’s FY 2016 Governor’s Proposed Budget recommends a 14.2 percent decrease in business assistance. This change came from the economic development component of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The most significant cuts were to tourism marketing activities. Minor cuts in this component were to “reduce economic development activities” and “delete funding for named recipient grant for Alaska Native Arts marketing”.
  • California Governor, Jerry Brown, proposed an 81.3 percent decrease in program support for the Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA). The OSBA advocates for the causes of small businesses and provides small business owners with the information needed to succeed in the California marketplace.
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s FY2016 proposed budget includes the elimination of funding for the Partnership of Workforce Quality (PWQ) program. The PWQ program provided skills training grants and support services to Maryland companies with 150 or fewer employees. Funds were used to increase the skills of existing workers for manufacturing and technology companies.

For more information and updates, visit the C2ER State Economic Development Program Expenditures Database. Please note that updates will not appear to users until all state updates are complete in June 2015.