YEAR TUITION FREEZE FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE DESCRIBED AS CONNECTIVE TISSUE, WITH PARTNERING BUSINESSES IN THE STATE WITH EVERYONE NEEDING TO WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO HELP THE ECONOMY GROW. AND WE’VE HAD TREMENDOUS LUCK WITH THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, BUT PARTICULARLY FROM A STATE UNIVERSITY WHO’S RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD. THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF SCHOOL AND GIVING THEM THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY’RE IN SCHOOL MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH US LATER ON WHEN THEY GRADUATE. AN EVENT TODAY BROUGHT YOU AN H. KEENE AND PLYMOUTH STATE TOGETHER WITH BUSINESS SOURCES TO DISCUSS WHERE THEY NEED TO GROW AND TO PUSH FOR MORE STATE FUNDING TO KEEP TUITION UP. WE WANT STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO OUR UNIVERSITIES. WE WANT TO HELP THEM TO THRIVE AND HELP THEM TO BE PART OF THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE. PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIA ATION, MIKE SKELTON, SAYS THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE SCRAMBLED THE WORKFORCE HERE IN THE GRANITE STATE WITH THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE FACING MANY BUSINESSES ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT NOW IS WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY. WORKFORCE HOUSING, TRAINING AND CHILDCARE ALSO ISSUES. SKELTON SAYS THAT DEMAND IS HIGH AND JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THE WORKFORCE ISN’T WHERE IT SHOULD BE. WE’VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE THE WORKFORCE TO NOT RETURN OUR LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS SLOWED DOWN. STUDENTS ARE KIND OF CONSIDERING WHEN THEY WANT TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. NOW, THE FUNDING THAT U.S. AND H HAS GOTTEN FROM THE STATE SINCE 2011 HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY THE SAME. AND THEY NEED MORE AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE SAYING. AND NOW THEIR NEW FUNDING REQUEST IS REQUESTING GRADUALLY MORE MONEY