By Missoula Current

Gov. Steve Bullock on Thursday signed his Quality Jobs Plan into law, saying it will lower taxes on Main Street businesses and expand career opportunities by giving companies a credit for offering on-the-job training.

The measure, wrapped into House Bill 308, provides state businesses a $750 tax credit for every position hired, so long as the worker is offered on-the-job training through the Montana Registered Apprenticeship unit.

For every veteran hired and given an apprenticeship opportunity, Bullock said, the business will receive a $1,500 tax credit.

Such apprenticeships provide training opportunities in almost 1,000 occupations.

“Small businesses are the heart of Montana’s economy and the job creators of today and tomorrow,” Bullock said. “In order to grow our economy, we need to make sure Montana continues to have one of the friendliest business climates in the country, and that employers have access to a trained and talented workforce.”

A separate portion of the plan included in House Bill 226 will give local governments the option to waive up to 75 percent of business equipment tax obligation for new or expanding business in the first five years of operation.

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