BROCKVILLE —The Ontario government is investing over $2.1 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to train over 700 workers and young people for careers in utilities, electrical trades and motive power trades in Leeds-Grenville, including expanding a training facility in Kemptville. This investment brings Ontario’s total SDF investment in Leeds-Grenville workers to over $4.6 million to support over 2,600 workers, jobseekers and youth.
“With today’s investments, we’re helping hundreds of workers across the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville get the training and support they need to find good-paying jobs that will support the local economy,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Across the province, we’re rebuilding Ontario’s economy by investing in the skilled trades so we can attract investment and create better jobs with bigger paycheques for our world-class workers.”
The funding comes from both the Training and Capital streams of the SDF, which are designed to recruit, train and upskill workers and build or upgrade training centres for the skilled trades. These projects include:
- Four-O-One Electric Ltd.: $1,064,500 through SDF Training Stream to train and up-skill 77 electrical workers, including women and youth and to advance from their apprenticeship to Journeyperson certification, with training stipends to incentivize workers to build upon their skillsets and train for innovative techniques and equipment.
- Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre: $840,912 through the SDF Training Stream to train 45 apprentices and workers in the motive power sector, including in the Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship (CVEA) program. This investment will also enable the Centre to deliver one-day training programs for 545 students in grades 7-12 to encourage them to start a career in the motive power and other skilled trades.
- Devries Power and Utilities Solutions: $263,142 through SDF Capital Stream to build an expanded training facility in Kemptville that will train 40 new diesel heavy mechanics, as well as electrical and powerline workers. The upgraded facilities will increase capacity for in-house, on-the-job training for new hires and other workers, reducing the need for workers to travel outside of the region to access training opportunities.
“With one in three tradespeople nearing retirement, we must transfer the skills and expertise from the Golden Generation of Skilled Tradespeople to the next generation of students,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why we’re partnering with local employers and educators to inspire more young people to join the trades, including launching the biggest Level Up! skilled trades career fair campaign in Ontario’s history to train the next generation of workers who will leverage the wisdom of experienced tradespeople to build Ontario’s bright future.”
October 11 is the deadline to apply for the government’s fifth round of SDF Training Stream, the largest round since the fund launched in 2021 with up to $260 million in available funding. With the fifth round of SDF Training Stream and the Capital Stream, this brings the government’s investment up to $1.4 billion to grow Ontario’s workforce for in-demand careers in the skilled trades.