Municipal Affairs
November 12, 2010
Additional Funding Approved to Support
Community Enhancement Employment Program
In response to employment pressures in rural areas throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government has increased the
funding allocation to the Community Enhancement Employment Program (CEEP)
by approximately $4 million.
"Our government has been hearing from a number of rural communities
who have requested assistance for individuals requiring a short amount
of hours to bridge the gap to qualify for employment insurance," said
the Honourable Kevin O'Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "Additional
funding will help meet the demands of these individuals, and will be
distributed to the areas with greatest need based on conditions in the
fish processing sector along with other local factors. Funding will
support the hiring of additional workers for some projects already
approved, and will also enable the department to fund additional
projects in other communities."
The $4 million is in addition to the $4.6 million for the program
announced in June, and the $275,000 announced in October for employment
support to assist fish plant workers displaced as a result of hurricane
Igor damage to the Ocean Choice fish processing plant in Port Union .
It is anticipated that as many as 1,500 individuals may benefit from the
additional employment assistance.
Project allocations will be made over the next several weeks. To
address the immediate need in Black Tickle, $100,000 has been approved
for a project that is expected to start very soon.
The Community Enhancement Employment Program provides funding to
established community-based organizations to sponsor and manage
employment projects. Workers can be employed for up to 420 hours in
order to become eligible for Employment Insurance benefits. To date this
year, the CEEP has funded over 250 employment projects totaling almost
$4.9 million.
"We are actively engaged with communities throughout the province to
help address employment challenges, and will continue to work with
project sponsors and those affected to ensure that every opportunity is
made available for employment," said Minister O'Brien.
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Media contact:
Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
2010 11 12 10:20 a.m.
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