Alberta food processors can access funds to train workers
By Food in Canada
Food In Canada Business Operations Processing Meat &Poultry Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada COVID-19
A butcher unpacks a piece of beef in the meat department at a supermarket in Princeton, Illinois, U.S., on Thursday, April 16, 2020. The Trump administration would like to make purchases of milk and meat products as part of a $15.5 billion initial aid package to farmers rattled by the coronavirus, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg May 12, 2020, Edmonton, Alta. – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is providing up to $5 million in support to food processors, farmers and agri-businesses to help offset the cost to train new domestic employees.
The funding was announced in response to COVID-19 under the Agriculture Training Support Program. The program is intended to offset costs for COVID-19 safety and training, including the costs for personal protective equipment and to remove any barriers to getting Albertans safely working.
The program will support training for as many as 2,500 new jobs in Alberta.
The maximum government contribution under the program is $2,000 per new employee, up to a maximum of $50,000 per employer. Grants will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis until available program funding is fully allocated.
In addition, approximately $1 million in funding will be targeted for meat processors to provide support for new hires to undertake meat-cutting training.
The government states that, as part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Risk Management programs, the new program will improve the agriculture and agri-food sector’s ability to anticipate, mitigate and prepare for risks that could have a major financial impact on the livestock and plant industries, or affect human health and safety.
The job training support compliments the launch of Alberta’s Agriculture Job Connector, a web resource to help agriculture employers looking for workers connect with job seekers.
“To all Albertans interested in work, jobs in the agriculture sector are dynamic, employ a range of skillsets and help to support your communities,” said federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “These investments, provided by both levels of Government, will give Albertans the opportunity to train and transition into these rewarding jobs.”
Applications can be accessed via the Canadian Agricultural Partnership website.
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