$6.2 Million Investment Supports Job Creation and Community Development

With a total investment of $6,282,709, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is helping 748 people gain valuable work experience and acquire skills that support community projects and build provincial prosperity. The Job Creation Partnerships program is providing employment opportunities for individuals through 114 projects taking place in 88 communities throughout the province.

“The Job Creation Partnerships program is helping people gain the work experience and skills necessary to secure a long-term attachment to the labour market,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills. “As we work to develop the workforce necessary to meet growing labour demands, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is partnering with municipalities and organizations to undertake important projects across a variety of sectors, including tourism, culture and heritage, sports and recreation, emergency services, information technology, marketing and economic development.”

Examples of 2012 projects include:

• $44,176 to the Placentia Area Development Association for an information communication technology project, including the review and analysis of data pertaining to past activities and projects, and to create index and catalogue digitized resources;
• $59,927 for a project in the Town of Cape St. George for Waste Management Improvement and Park Construction where participants will work for a 26-week period to complete work at a waste disposal site, make improvements to Boutte du Cap Park and finish a trail to Kittiwake Colony;
• $57,460 for the Baccalieu Trail Archaeology Project 2012. Participants, archaeological field assistants and lab assistants will construct history boards commemorating the 400 anniversary of the voyage of the Indeavour, the recording of artifacts on Dildo Island and excavation and interpretation at Cupids; and,
• $21,185 for the Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to construct and install floatable wharves and ground preparation for the development of a 300-meter shooting range.

“At a time when education is accessible and affordable like never before and demand for employment is growing, the Job Creation Partnership program continues to provide participants with work experience and skills needed to attach to the labour market,” said Minister Burke. “With the expectation that the province will see as many as 70,000 job openings in the next 10 years, the Provincial Government is working with our partners – including business, labour and training institutions – to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead and ensure a prosperous future for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

The Job Creation Partnership program funding is provided through direct contributions to sponsors or through the extension of Employment Insurance benefits for project participants and may include in-kind or in-cash contributions from sponsors. In November 2009, responsibility for Labour Market Development Agreement programs and services, including the Job Creation Partnership program, transferred from the Federal Government to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that time, the Provincial Government has delivered approximately 710 projects with a total value of nearly $34 million, providing employment for over 3,571 individuals.

For a complete list of all recently approved Job Creation Partnership projects and for more information on the Labour Market Development Agreement, please visit: www.gov.nl.ca/aes/lmda/jcp.html

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2012 06 01             10:00 a.m.