Northern Lights College (NLC) will receive $150,000 to support training for workers affected by the temporary decreased production at the Chetwynd Mechanical Pulp Mill.

The funding is also expected to provide additional training opportunities for students in other communities in the Northeast that may be experiencing an economic downturn.

“Government is committed to helping former workers at the Chetwynd Mechanical Pulp Mill prepare for their future,” said MLA for Peace River South Mike Bernier on behalf of Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Training will support not only the workers but the community and economy in the Northeast, which is why this funding is so important.”

A Community Adjustment Team, whose purpose is to coordinate and integrate local support services, is working with NLC to determine what training will be most effective and to create programming that will best support future job opportunities for the affected workers. While the team members vary, depending on the situation of each community, they typically include local and provincial service providers and organizations with leadership from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.

The funding aligns with B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and supports communities in the region affected by the economic downturn, providing workers with the opportunity to retrain and upgrade their skills.

“This funding is vital both to communities and the workers affected by the slowdown in the economy,” said Dr. Loren Lovegreen, NLC vice-president, academic and research. “Our college is dedicated to working with all the stakeholders to provide the best training opportunities possible at the Chetwynd and Fort Nelson campuses.”

NLC offers a variety of developmental, continuing education, trades and technologies, career and vocational and academic programs leading to certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint was launched two years ago to align funding and programs with in-demand occupations. B.C. expects almost one million job openings by 2024 and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education or training.