OLYMPIA - The Washington State Senate has approved a bill continuing a program that provides training benefits to companies locating or expanding in Washington state.

"We welcome and encourage businesses from around the country and around the world to come to Washington and set up locations here," said Sen. Paull Shin, the bill's sponsor.

Senate Bill 6371 will provide five more years of funding for the Washington Customized Employment Workforce Training Program, a business investment tool created in 2006. As a response to the outsourcing of jobs that occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s, the training program pays for the training of new employees at the relocating companies. The company then repays the costs of the training over an 18-month period. Since its creation, more than 30 companies and 900 trainees have benefited from the training.

A sunset clause would have ended the Workforce Training Program in 2012. Shin’s bill allows it to continue until 2017.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen. Paull Shin, 360-786-7640