The Government of Canada is investing over $8.8 million through PrairiesCan to connect youth and underrepresented Canadians in Alberta to new career opportunities. With a focus on addressing the demands of Alberta's growing entrepreneurial culture, the funding will support 11 organizations delivering training in high-growth fields such as Indigenous economic development, agriculture, data science, and technology. The investments aim to create over 1,600 jobs and provide about 4,500 training opportunities.
Notable Initiatives include:
Technology Alberta: More than $2.3 million for the second phase of the FIRST job placement program, assisting post-secondary students and recent graduates in securing career opportunities with Alberta technology firms.
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT): Over $308,000 to launch the Blue Book Program, offering students the chance to bring business ideas to life from concept to launch.
These initiatives are part of the government's Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which involves collaboration with various stakeholders and allocates $100 million over three years to support key priorities identified through consultations, including regional sector growth, clean energy, and economic reconciliation.