More than half a million dollars is going to the Quinte Economic Development Commission to assist local manufacturers.
Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith announced the $577,500 for the region on Tuesday.
The money, which was included in the provincial government’s budget revealed last week, will help local manufacturers identify specific needs and create sector-specific awareness to fill an anticipated 2,100 job openings this year.
The QEDC will also create a human resources guide to assist with attraction, ongoing, retention and training in a workplace changed by increasing automation.
It builds on previous QEDC efforts to survey employers about labour force challenges in the region.
MPP Smith said, “Investing in this research will help us to monitor employment trends to ensure we have the right mix of skilled workers to meet our needs for years to come.”
Chris King, the Chief Executive Officer of the QEDC, welcomed the news, calling the manufacturing sector a dominant economic driver in the Bay of Quinte region, providing over $500 million in annual payroll and said the funding will address workforce needs in the sector and allow local companies to continue to grow and provide good paying jobs.
