Working on unemployment
Province announces funding for groups helping Islanders get job skills
“For many, it can feel like a very long road between ‘now’ and employment, but with support from organizations, such as those mentioned, these programs will help make that road quite so long.” Barb Broome
Some of P.E.I.’s non-governmental organizations are getting a boost of project-specific funding.
The government of P.E.I. announced Wednesday that it would be providing just under $900,000 to help support the groups’ work.
Barb Broome, executive director of the East Prince Youth Development Centre, one of the groups that received funding, said it will be put to work helping young people get into the workforce.
“For many, it can feel like a very long road between ‘now’ and employment, but with support from organizations, such as those mentioned, these programs will help make that road quite so long,” said Broome, whose organization hosted the funding announcement in Summerside.
The money announced includes $75,000 for the East Prince Youth Development Centre, $150,000 for the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance and $150,000 for the P.E.I. Reach Foundation, which will help young people recovering from mental health and addictions challenges reenter the workforce.
It also includes $225,000 for the Adventure Group, which will be used to support the second year of its Harvest and Prosper program, and $295,000 for the Construction Association of P.E.I. to help with Team Construction, which helps Islanders training to enter the construction industry.
The province also reaffirmed its commitment to provide $4.4 million in annual funding for 11 employment assistant services across the Island.
Workforce Minister Sonny Gallant congratulated all the funded groups for their work.
“We as a government and as Islanders are very grateful for all your work. I know you’re all working on new and exciting projects for this year and I’m looking forward to seeing your successes in the year to come,” said Gallant.