There are many long-term unemployed, who can no longer receive unemployment benefits. There are also many small or start-up businesses that are struggling in this economy, yet small businesses are the engine of growth for the US economy in all seasons.
Why not merge the goals together, providing an engine for small businesses and getting the long-term unemployed employed again?
Let the federal government create a fund that would subsidize, at the rate of 100%, the cost for a small or start-up business of hiring and paying the wage of one-to-five long-term unemployed persons.
The funds would be approved based on the individual unemployed applicant, but paid directly to the small or start-up business, for their Personnel Department to pay the wage to the worker.