Archived News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

October 19, 2012

Province Announces New Initiatives to Help People with Barriers to Employment Get Training, Find Jobs

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Non-profits' Clinets to Benefit from Driver's Training, New Job Opportunities, Targeted Benefits: Selinger

The Government of Manitoba will help community-based organizations, which support Manitobans with barriers to employment to get training and find jobs by supporting two new initiatives, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“Working together, the provincial government and our community-based organizations have a track record of helping many Manitobans get practical training and find work,” said Selinger.  “Today we’re building on that partnership so these organizations can support even more Manitobans who want to work and make a contribution to their community.”

The two initiatives are Citizen’s Bridge and Enterprising Non-Profits Manitoba, the premier said.  Enterprising Non-Profits will provide workshops, business plan support and grants to non-profits interested in starting new social enterprises.  The Citizen’s Bridge pilot project expands BUILD’s (Building Urban Industries for Local Development) successful driver’s training program to over 20 referral partners and will provide support in obtaining proper identification and financial literacy training to help people who have challenges connecting to employment.  Both projects will be based out of the Social Enterprise Centre.

“Every Manitoban who wants work should be able to find it and for some Manitobans that means breaking the cycle of poverty,” said Selinger.  “By directly partnering with community groups and employers, we’ll help more families get past their barriers to employment and into good jobs.” 

At a combined cost of $355,000, the two projects are funded by the province’s Winnipeg Regeneration Strategy, which supports inner-city revitalization.

The province also announced it will expand the Rewarding Work health plan benefits to single parents and people with disabilities who move off employment income assistance and on to a provincial training allowance, supporting the transition to work.

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