Clinton unveils plan to spur manufacturing growth

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton will unveil a proposal Tuesday for a tax credit program meant to jump-start manufacturing in cities like Wichita.

Under Clinton’s proposed plan, communities would be able to apply for tax relief after a plant closure or significant layoffs occur, according to an e-mail from the campaign. Eligible communities would be able to choose between a zero tax on capital gains for investors who keep their investments for more than five years or a 39 percent tax credit on equity investments for areas hit hard by layoffs.

The goal is to create what Clinton’s campaign is calling a “manufacturing renaissance” by spurring investment. Clinton will be speaking about the idea on the campaign trail in New Hampshire this week.

“My plan will help spur reinvestment in communities … that have lost jobs because of factory closures,” Clinton said in a statement. “By strengthening our manufacturing sector for the future, we can help create the next generation of good-paying jobs and put more people back to work in Kansas and across the country.”

Wichita’s aviation industry has been particularly affected by layoffs in recent years, including more than 600 layoffs at Learjet earlier this year.

The Wichita metro area had 15,900 fewer manufacturing jobs as of October 2015 than it did in October 2008, according to the Kansas Department of Labor. The bulk of that job loss can be attributed to the aviation industry.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Clinton unveils plan to spur manufacturing growth."