Program for shrimpers announced - Not associated with BP and the oil spill

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20100729/BUSINESS/7290333/1046/Program-for-shrimpers-announced

July 29, 2010

The USDA-Farm Service Agency is taking applications from shrimpers through Sept. 23 to participate in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Farmers.

This program is not associated with BP and the oil spill in the Gulf. It is a program that was created as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The program provides for payments up to $4,000 for participating in approximately 16 hours of training and submission of an initial business plan. The LSU Cooperative Extension Service will provide this training.

Training locations and dates will be announced near the end of sign-up. Once this phase is completed, the program provides for an additional one-time payment of up to $8,000 for participation in training with a private consultant and submission of a long term business plan. Some of the training topics will be market and production outlook, improving production efficiency, direct marketing, personnel management, understanding financial statements and ratios and developing a business plan.

Unlike the previous 2005 Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, this program pays for the applicant to participate in training rather than a flat rate based on production.

[leveymg]

1. Use the rest of TARP to do this for every occupational category where the unemployment rate is high

The difference between an out-of-work 54 year old programmer and a 25 year old with an MS, Computer Sci making $100K a year is about two years of post-grad study. If they expect people to work into their 70s, people have to have competitive education, skills and training. This is necessary to survive economically, and should be a birth-right in America. Bring the cost of higher education down, now! A new GI Bill for Everyone.

[jody]

2. Interesting that 16 hrs of govt. training is expected to make shrimpers competitive with cheap

shrimp grown in polluted waters with cheap labor from other countries.

"Some of the training topics will be market and production outlook, improving production efficiency, direct marketing, personnel management, understanding financial statements and ratios and developing a business plan."

I am not convinced that such programs are effective.