WASHINGTON (August 24, 2010)—Congressman Chandler kicked-off his “Focus on Jobs” tour early Tuesday morning by announcing a small business assistance program with Commerce Lexington Inc., the Central Kentucky Regional Public Policy Group, and other local and regional leaders to help Central Kentucky’s small businesses and create local jobs.

On Chandler’s jobs tour he will visit local businesses, talk to companies about their needs and what he can do in Washington, and find out how assistance his office has provided in the past has helped these small businesses grow and create jobs. The current focus of his tour is small business development and job training.

“The government is not the driving force in our economy, our small businesses are,” Chandler said. “Our greatest need is for Congress to work closely with businesses, local officials, and economic development organizations to find new ways to create jobs and protect at-risk jobs here in Central Kentucky.”
 
After the small business initiative announcement in Fayette County, Chandler visited the Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) campus in Winchester to tour the new facility and learn more about the program. Chandler was instrumental securing new science equipment for the campus last year.

“A good education is the foundation for just about everything,” Chandler said. “Places like BCTC help train the future leaders of our state and make a college education more accessible to everyone—it is hard to overestimate their impact on Kentucky’s economy.”

BCTC is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and operates six campuses—Cooper, Danville, Georgetown, Lawrenceburg, Leestown, Newtown, Regency, and Winchester Campuses—and provides classes in Lancaster, Georgetown-Scott County, downtown Lexington and online.

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