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Student Co-op Program gets $50,000 extra in funding Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment, recently announced an additional $50,000 in funding for the department's Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP). The program is designed to expose small and medium sized businesses and co-operative education students to the value of co-operative education and entrepreneurial activities. Minister Bettney said that the $50,000 is in addition to the $300,000 in funding that was already allocated to the program for the 1997/98 fiscal year. "This program is very much in keeping with the Department of Human Resources and Employment's mandate to help individuals get the career training and experience they need to get into or remain in the labour force," said the minister. "Since its inception in 1994, the Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program has provided 335 co-operative placements for students in a variety of disciplines." The program provides an incentive for small and medium sized businesess to hire co-operative education students by offering eligible employers a 50 per cent wage subsidy, up to a maximum contribution of $5 per hour. All of the funding goes directly into wages for co-operative students. Christine Webb, manager, Co-operative Education Services Centre, Memorial University, said: "SECPAP gives students valuable experience by working in small business. Essentially, we want the program to encourage students to look at small business as a viable career option, and we want small businesses to gain from the knowledge and assistance that co-op students can provide." Students from both Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic have participated in this program. Contact: Karen Kelloway Christine Webb
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