Kingston & Region Community Training Farm receives $216,200 in funding for its efforts to better develop the workforce within the agricultural sector.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image via: Photo by Spencer Pugh on Unsplash
The Government of Ontario is providing $216,200 in funding to Kingston, Ontario for development of its proposed Kingston & Region Community Training Farm project.
The project is a multi-partner workforce development initiative that is slated to provides innovative skills training for the agricultural sector by responding to labour market needs and the creation of local employment opportunities.
Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson stated: “We’re excited to partner with Minister McNaughton and the Ontario government on this exciting initiative. This collaboration will strengthen the resilience of the local food ecosystem and position the Kingston community for economic growth.”
The Kingston & Region Community Training Farm will be housed on the property of the Collins Bay Institution, managed by Loving Spoonful, and with St. Lawrence College supporting the training needs of program participants.
The project is funded through the Government of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, noted Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “Workers in Ontario’s agriculture sector are vital to keeping our shelves stocked and food on the table. (It’s) why we’re working with the City of Kingston to connect young people to exciting careers in farming and ensure local employers have the workers they need to grow their businesses.”
The project will support farmers and local food production in a sector that that showed significant labour market shortages pre-pandemic, and is facing the same now.
The Kingston & Region Community Training Farm will also focus on skills needs and underrepresented groups who have faced some of the largest economic impacts of the pandemic.