NEW GLASGOW - A new program will give 14 young people with intellectual disabilities the skills they need to enter the workplace.
The year-long program at Summer Street Industries will give young people the academic skills they need to develop to enter the workforce as well as hands-on experience, explained Chris Morrison, the community outreach officer at SSI.
"It's going to prepare employees in a meaningful way for regular, full-time employment," Morrison said. "By the time they come out, they'll know what's required for full-time employment. It will help them become productive members of the community and give them the opportunity to be productive just like everyone else."
The project was made possible Wednesday by a federal funding announcement by Central Nova MP Peter MacKay. The Summer Street Industries Society will receive $343,080 in Skills Link funding through Service Canada to support the project.
"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market," MacKay said. "By supporting the project, the Government of Canada is helping New Glasgow youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."
The Summer Street Transition-to-Work Project will kick off later this month. Currently, organizers are in the process of identifying office space for the project and arranging instructors, while the first students for the project will undergo an assessment to determine if they're a good fit, Morrison said.
Steeltown to get almost $900,000
TRENTON - Trenton's Main Street revitalization project and the town's rink received a financial boost from the federal government yesterday to the tune of almost $900,000.
Central Nova MP and National Defence Minister Peter MacKay, speaking at Trenton Town Hall, announced roughly $655,000 for the Main Street project, with the money coming from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's Community Adjustment Fund, and a $238,508 grant for the Trenton Minor Sport Community Centre through Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC).
"This has clearly been a project that has been in the works for some time and is much needed good news for a town like Trenton. For a community that's been hard hit, this is exactly the type of morale booster … that's needed here in Trenton," MacKay said.
Also on hand for the announcement was Pictou Centre MLA and provincial Justice Minister Ross Landry, who said the province's Economic and Rural Development department will contribute $142,375 to the Main Street project.
"Improving Main Street in Trenton will help the local economy by providing a vibrant place for new and existing businesses to thrive," he said.
Preliminary work on the first phase of the project will occur this year and more will likely follow in the spring.
Coun. Don Hussher, who has been heavily involved with the project at the municipal level, said this first phase of the project will begin in the centre of town and branch outward.
"It's a small portion of the overall project, but it's the biggest phase."
"The biggest thing we wanted to do is get the sod turned. We've been going at this for four years - and there have been different pitfalls."
The benefits from the RInC contribution are already being experienced at the rink as its new EcoChill refrigeration plant is up and running.
Manager Wayne Otter said the new plant is a much-needed replacement. He calls it more efficient and says he is able to produce a sheet of ice quicker than before.
"Our old plant was pretty worn out. It barely got us through last year. I don't think we would have been able to put in ice this year when we did, because it was just too warm," Otter said.
And, already rink-users are telling him that the ice itself feels better to skate on.
In the future, the plan is to use the heat generated by the unit to warm parts of the rink.
