By Shaun Penner

Record Investment

Province, feds team up for $370 million Alberta job creation grant program

May 19, 2021 | 1:32 PM

The new Alberta Jobs Now program is aiming to help private and non-profit businesses hire and train more unemployed and underemployed Albertans.

Premier Jason Kenney announced the program Wednesday, saying the Alberta government is putting $185 million into the program, which will match the contribution made by the federal government through the Workforce Development Agreement for a total investment of $370 million.

Starting Thursday at 9 a.m., eligible employers will be able to apply for a grant that covers 25 per cent of a new employee’s salary for a 52-week period up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. A business may apply for a maximum of 20 new employees.

The grant can be used to cover salary or training costs.

Businesses or non-profits 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 been previously employed with the organization within the past 90 days.

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“We’re investing in Alberta’s economic recovery with financial support to provide job opportunities for unemployed Albertans,” said Kenney. “This is a long-term investment in working Albertans as we recover from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession.”

Alberta Chamber of Commerce CEO Ken Kobly says this is a very positive partnership to help get Albertans back to work.

“A program with the flexibility for businesses to develop industry-specific skills in their workforce, to help them grow and thrive, is what our members have been asking for.”

Minister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney hopes this program will be utilized to hire more women and people with disabilities, who she says have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

To encourage such a move, the program would provide 37.5% of the new hire’s salary up to $37,500 per employee with a disability.

“We believe every Albertan, regardless of the barriers they face, deserves the opportunity to actively participate in their communities and in the workforce,” said Sawhney. “This program has the great potential for more Albertans to rejoin the workforce with the skills and supports that meet their goals.”

Businesses must commit to the program for at least one year. To see that through, Minister of Labour and Immigration Jason Copping says businesses will not receive the full grant payment until week 52.

Businesses can also receive half of the eligible grant paid when the new hires have been employed for 12 weeks, with the balance being issued in week 52.

Any business can apply at the province’s website.