CORNER BROOK, NL - The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources and MHA for Corner Brook, as well as Dr. Bill Radford, President and CEO of College of the North Atlantic, announced the inaugural round of projects approved through the Workforce Innovation Centre this past Friday, Nov. 17, 2017.
Following a public call for proposals in May 2017, projects were selected based on their alignment with government’s vision for job creation and economic development in The Way Forward. Priority was also given to projects that support the ongoing efforts of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs, with particular emphasis on the aquaculture, agriculture, and technology sectors.
The Provincial Government will allocate funding to the following four projects:
- $588,000 for Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador to support rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who wish to transition to work in the tourism sector.
- More than $497,000 for Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Genesis Centre to explore ways to increase entrepreneurship among women and immigrants in the technology sector.
- Over $361,000 to the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation to develop and deliver an innovative training model for entry-level occupations in the aquaculture industry that meets labour and employer needs.
- Just over $292,000 to the Association for New Canadians, in partnership with Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus, to develop and implement a program connecting refugees to employment opportunities in the province’s agriculture sector.
The Genesis Centre and the Association for New Canadians projects support key priorities in The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador which identifies action items on employment mentorship and leadership among immigrant women, and the delivery of labour market integration programming for refugees.
The Workforce Innovation Centre, established earlier this year to meet a key commitment in The Way Forward, supports and funds innovative research, designs, activities and projects that help Newfoundlanders and Labradorians gain and maintain sustainable employment.
Quotes
“These Workforce Innovation Centre projects tap into the expertise and exciting new ideas of our partners. They align with our strategy to encourage private sector job creation and grow the economy as identified in The Way Forward, the Cabinet Committee on Jobs’ recent industry summits, and the province’s Immigration Action Plan.”
Honourable Al Hawkins
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
“Today’s announcement not only supports government’s commitment to attracting more immigrants to Newfoundland and Labrador but also highlights the vast potential to grow this province’s agriculture industry. I am pleased to see the Association of New Canadians partner with Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus on such a positive initiative and look forward to the benefits it will bring to the region.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources and MHA for Corner Brook
“The College of the North Atlantic continues to be a champion of ensuring a direct connection between CNA and its end users – government, career and employment service providers, students, skills development organizations, and stakeholders in the business and community sectors. The Workforce Innovation Centre provides the perfect platform to do just that, and for CNA, it’s a reflection of where our true strengths are when it comes to research, education, innovation and solidifying meaningful partnerships.”
Dr. Bill Radford
President and CEO, College of the North Atlantic
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Learn more
Workforce Innovation Centre - www.cna.nl.ca/wic
The Way Forward - thewayforward.gov.nl.ca/
The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador - www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/publications/pdf/ImmigrationPlan.pdf
College of the North Atlantic to Host Province’s Workforce Innovation Centre - www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/0224n02.aspx
Media contacts
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca
Susie Bugden
Constituency Office for the
Honourable Gerry Byrne
MHA for Corner Brook
709-637-4057
susiebugden@gov.nl.ca
Michelle Jesso
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
michelle.jesso@cna.nl.ca