The provincial and federal government have announced a continuation of funding for three Kelowna-based social service job training programs.
Up to 322 job seekers are receiving training for work in the Central Okanagan, thanks to the funding from Victoria and Ottawa.
A total of more than $1 million has been allotted to Kelowna Community Resources and the YMCA of Okanagan to continue to deliver three training programs at no cost to eligible participants from Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country:
• $275,310 to Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) to deliver the Job Readiness in the 21st Century program to up to 90 participants who are either persons with disabilities, immigrants or older workers.
• $301,890 to KCR to deliver the Essential Skills Training program to up to 100 participants.
• $429,048 to YMCA of Okanagan to deliver YMCA Youth Works program, which provides essential skills and job readiness training to up to 132 participants.
All of the programs are currently underway.
These programs are funded through the province’s Employment Services and Supports program, under the Canada-B.C. Job Fund.
ESS funds a wide range of training, from job readiness and essential skills to entrepreneurial and trades training for unemployed or employed low-skilled, non-EI eligible individuals, including: youth, women, aboriginal people, immigrants and those under-represented in the trades.
The objective of the ESS program is to prepare British Columbians for entry to, or return to, sustainable employment.
In 2016-17, a total of $43.4 million was provided to the province for all ESS programs, including the Ministry of Advanced Education’s Aboriginal Community-Based Training Partnerships programs and other training programs delivered in partnership with the Industry Training Authority.