The province has given the College of New Caledonia $725,337 in one time funding to deliver skills, trades and technical training at its campuses this year.

The college will use the funding to deliver several in demand courses and programs, such as the construction assistant course at the lakes District campus and will be adding a total of 32 student seats to power engineering, 16 in Prince George and 16 at the Quesnel campus.

鈥淭hese funds will greatly assist CNC to expand our trades and technical training in Northern B.C.,鈥� said CNC president John Bowman.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to note that this is one time funding, which must be used to deliver new and additional training opportunities.鈥�

CNC will also use the funding to deliver mine certificate training programs in Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Quesnel and Prince George, the heavy equipment operator and introduction to trades in Prince George, hospitality and customer service training for immigrant Women in Prince George and possibly more.

鈥淭hrough the B.C. Jobs Plan, we are working to meet the skills gap, connecting workers with job opportunities and training British Columbians for those job openings,鈥� Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell said.

"This funding is another example of how our government is being flexible and responsive to offer training that helps address regional labour market needs.鈥�

The provincial government announced recently that $10 million in one time funding was being provided to 16 B.C. public post secondary institutions to prepare workers for jobs in their regions.

The funding was made available through the Canada, British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement and is designated for short term training to meet local needs.