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To reduce barriers to job training and skills development for rural Perth County residents, the province will provide more than $1.8 million to support the development of a regional technology learning center and skills in north Perth.

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Joined by representatives from North Perth, Stratford Skilled Trades Training Provider’s Technical Training Group and the Contact North Distance Learning Network, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece announced funding for Smith Steel & Manufacturing in Atwood, just south of Listowel, early Tuesday evening.

“Currently, I understand that many local residents have to travel more than 50 kilometers to access the training they need. This distance is an obstacle for those who do not have a vehicle. It’s a barrier for anyone in the winter and for people with disabilities,” Pettapiece said. “When it comes to training people for local jobs and encouraging them to stay in the community, that distance certainly doesn’t help.

“It will (also) make the region more competitive, improving employers’ and individuals’ access to training, tools and education. … It’s not just a major investment. This tells us that the future for the skilled trades is bright. This tells us that the economic future for North Perth and the smaller communities in the riding is bright.

The idea of ​​developing a training center in north Perth was proposed for funding by this municipality following discussions with local vocational training providers as a means of helping local employers to fill in-demand jobs, to give residents – especially young people – a pathway to rewarding careers. in their home communities and strengthen the local economy with a workforce trained in the skills employers need.

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“At the start of my term as mayor, I heard from many businesses and industries in North Perth, including our hosts, Smith Steel, about the importance of ‘upskilling’ their workers and ensuring that those who want to work and train get that opportunity without further disruption that would drive people out of our community. …During these experiences…I thought about what could be done to create what I began to call the Third Way – a way of providing adult education that didn’t mean we were setting up a university here, or a college here, since those ambitions are actually quite unlikely in my lifetime,” North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg said on Tuesday.

As part of the North Perth proposal, Kasenberg, City Council and city staff have worked with local representatives from Contact North and the Technical Training Group to develop a new model of vocational and vocational training that relies less on the classroom learning and more about partnering with companies for on-the-job training while giving learners the technology, tools and connections to learn directly in their own communities.

“The real goal in terms of development has been to secure technologies and materials for learners. Some changes will be made to create a physical classroom space in the Elma Memorial Community Center in Atwood, just up the road, but that’s not the real goal. The aim is to create a framework – a platform – for learners to meaningfully engage with technology and trades training right here in North Perth so they don’t have to travel to 50 or 100 km to go to school. … An important part of the proposal was to (establish) learning labs in the community. We recognize that we have manufacturers and employers who can provide space, tools and facilities for the purposes of a project like this. And many of them have expressed their support for a project like this and, of course, work with students so that they have access to it when they graduate,” Kasenberg said.

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Whether providing an income for those in training or promoting the skilled trades as a career to local young people, Kasenberg, Pattapiece and their local partners said the North Perth Technology and Skills Learning Hub will be able solve many of the local labor issues that currently exist in Perth County.

“It’s not just about job skills, it’s also about soft skills (and) management skills,” said Jeff Scholl, education and training consultant at Contact Nord. “It’s not just about finding people to work, it’s also about keeping people in those places. This is why this opportunity is quite unique. Not only are we going to elevate people who don’t have skills into skilled positions, but we’re going to be able to elevate people who are currently working to become better managers and better retain their staff.

Some of the initial classroom learning through this new training center could begin as early as June, Kasenberg said.

As part of Tuesday’s announcement, Pettapiece also announced funding of just over $92,400 for the Technical Training Group. This funding will enable the organization to deliver a new Welding and Metalworking Pathway Program which will provide hands-on local training in welding and metal fabrication to 10 young people aged 16-25 in North Perth.

All provincial funding announced Tuesday in Atwood is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

gsimmons@postmedia.com