Local legislators spoke to business leaders in Pella at the annual Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance Legislative Forum at Vermeer Corporation Friday.

State Senator Ken Rozenboom and Representatives Guy Vander Linden and Greg Heartsill spoke about a wide range of issues during a two-hour roundtable to local business leaders.

Rozenboom tells KNIA/KRLS News discussion was primarily focused on maintaining and growing the state’s workforce.

“When we went around the room as we began the forum the common theme that was obvious to everyone was workforce development, that we have some great manufacturing and other employers in this area that are needing quality, trained, educated employees, and that’s a problem for all of them it appears,” he says. “I don’t think there’s anything new about that, so our challenge is to address that problem.”

Other topics included addressing broadband internet connectivity, school funding, tax reform, infrastructure, small business competitiveness, Managed Medicaid and the rising cost of health care.