Greater Fort Myers Chamber Of Commerce: Help Wanted: A Solution To Solve The Problem Of Employee Shortages 

Press release from Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:

2021-11-08

Help Wanted: A solution to solve the problem of employee shortages
Submitted by Christian Zimmerman

Is your business searching for qualified, independent, and dedicate employees? If so, then the How I Reach Employment (HIRE) Program could be just what you need. The HIRE Program is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities by enrolling them in vocational programs at Fort Myers Technical College (FMTC) and Cape Coral Technical College (CCTC). HIRE students earn national industry certifications and receive social/emotional education to allow them to transition seamlessly into their careers. The HIRE Program has students in Culinary Arts, Digital Design, Electronic Technology, Major Appliance Repair, Office Assisting, and Barbering. HIRE students will quickly become one of your most esteemed employees because our students have a deep-rooted desire to excel in their career fields and they have the requisite training that today’s employment world demands.  

Companies across the world are realizing how valuable individuals with disabilities can be to their organizations. From Microsoft to McDonald’s, employers are finding that hiring someone with a disability can be beneficially financially, but also intrinsically. Knowing that you are giving someone the chance to make their dreams come true is one of the best feelings on Earth. You can make someone’s lifelong dream come true, all while increasing your profits and decreasing the strain that comes with a worker shortage. If you still require convincing, what if I told you that your business could qualify for up to $9,600 per year in tax credits alone?     

The HIRE Program’s coordinator, Christian Zimmerman, is well-versed in Federal tax incentives and rebates that allow employers to receive compensation for employing individuals with disabilities; he is happy to assist business owners in completing the IRS paperwork needed to receive those incentives even if they don’t hire one of his students. He is also available to stop by your place of business to talk about his amazing program and some of the tax benefits that are available to you.  

For additional information on the HIRE Program or on possible tax incentives, please email Christian at: ChristianLZ@leeschools.net.  

This press release was produced by Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.