New program funds job creation

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The province has announced a new jobs program to help businesses challenged by the current economy to hire new workers.

The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide $370 million to private and non-profit businesses to help support new jobs for unemployed and underemployed Albertans.

“This is an incentive to get unemployed Albertans back in the workforce,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, during the May 21 town hall hosted by Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce.

Through this program, employers can apply for a job grant, which covers 25 per cent of an employee’s salary for a year. Funding will be available for up to 20 new employees per business, to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. Grants may be used to cover salary or training costs.

To be eligible, businesses must use the funding to hire unemployed Albertans in a new or vacant position. The new hire must reside and work in Alberta, and must not have worked for the employer within the previous 90 days.

The program is being funded with $185 million through federal transfers and $185 million available through provincial funds.

Employers have until Aug. 31 to apply for the program, which is now open. A second round of the program will open on Sept. 15 and close on Dec. 31. Employers who hire people with disabilities will receive a grant 1.5 times the amount they receive for other new employees.