Pennsylvania
Bill Would Hold State Accountable for Job Grants
A state senator is introducing legislation to provide increased accountability and scrutiny of state grants and loans awarded to businesses for job creation. The bill by Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, will address a state audit released last week that found that 60% of the 360 companies that received state job grants between 2000 and 2003 did not meet their job promises.
Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Vermont
Manufacturing Loans Lead State Economic Development
Manufacturing loans accounted for the largest segment of loans made during the past fiscal year by the Vermont Economic Development Authority, according to figures released by the agency last week. The state authority made $109 million in loans for 244 projects during the fiscal year that ended June 30, down from the previous year's $113 million for 235 projects. However, $34 million in manufacturing loans were made last year, an increase of $8 million over fiscal 2006.
Source: The Rutland Herald

Alabama
Businesses, Employees Testify on Immigration
A state task force developing recommendations about illegal immigration heard pleas last week from business owners who can't find enough American workers and workers who say they can't find a decent paying job. The Joint Patriotic Immigration Commission held its first public hearing and has plans to hold three more before presenting its recommendations to the Legislature in February.
Source: Associated Press

North Carolina
State Closes in on Federal Teacher Requirements
The state came close this year to meeting a federal requirement that public schools hire only "highly qualified" educators to teach core subjects such as math and reading. About 97% of 75,870 teachers were designated highly qualified by the end of the 2006-2007 school year, according to the Department of Public Instruction. The number represents an increase of about 4% since the same time last year, said a department official.
Source: The News & Record

Minnesota
State Unemployment Drops Below National Numbers
After years of leading the nation in job growth, Minnesota is lagging, according to an analysis of figures compiled by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). In June, for the first time in 31 years, the state's unemployment rate was higher than the national jobless rate. In September, the gap widened: The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose to 4.9%; nationally, it was 4.7%. Economists say one explanation could be a temporary mismatch between the skill sets of the state's labor force and new jobs in fast-changing, growing industries.
Source: Star Tribune

Montana
Study Finds State Consumers Upbeat
A consumer sentiment survey by the University of Montana has found that state residents are overwhelmingly positive about the economy. University of Montana economist Paul Polzin said the Montana Index of Consumer Sentiment for the summer and fall remains high—hitting the same measurement reported in early 2006. Polzin said Montana has seen only "mild local impact" from the housing market troubles and that the state's natural resource and construction industries remain strong.
Source: The Billings Gazette

Utah
Fewer Employers are Offering Health Benefits, Says Study
Utah is leading the nation in the decline of employer-provided medical insurance plans, according to a report released by the Economic Policy Institute. In Utah, the portion of employees younger than 65 covered by a medical benefit from their employer dropped by 8.9% between 2000 and 2006—the largest rate of decline nationwide, according to the report. Economists from the Institute cite labor-market pressure and rising medical-care inflation as causes for the decline.
Source: The Deseret Morning News

Washington
Voters Consider Prisoner Work Initiative
State voters are deciding a constitutional amendment on today's ballot that would allow prison inmates to work for private contractors. Supporters say it will allow a practice that had been in effect for 20 years before a court decision. Opponents say it could take jobs and business away from people outside prison walls.
Source: Associated Press