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NIAGARA, ONT. — Three Niagara Region-based projects will provide free training to 2,318 youth, apprentices and jobseekers thanks to a $4.7 million investment by the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund.

The Ontario government will partner with industry to deliver free training programs.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 1007 in Niagara Region is receiving $650,369 to purchase and outfit a new six-booth welding trailer, new industry-standard equipment and technology which will enable Local 1007 to train, test and certify an additional 48 apprentices and journeypersons on various types of welding to meet industry and employer demand.

The Civiconnect Youth Community Engagement Organization will get $3 million to help 350 youth aged 14 to 29 in Niagara Region develop technical and workplace preparedness skills for careers in the skilled trades, digital marketing, web development, digital system administration, cloud computing and information technology. Participants will work on projects submitted by businesses in the community.

Edge Factor Inc will receive $1.08 million for a project that aims to showcase careers and opportunities in the skilled trades online for 1,920 youth, jobseekers, parents and community members in Niagara Region and across Ontario.

“The Skills Development Funding will be instrumental in enabling Millwright Local 1007 to offer more accessible work-ready welding training to our membership,” said Dan Steel, business representative for UBC Millwright Local 1007 Niagara Falls, Millwright Regional Council of Canada, in a statement. “As an organization deeply involved in supporting power generation, steel making, automotive manufacturing, and many other critical industries, this welding center is a significant step towards improving skilled trades training in Niagara and supporting new apprentice development, which would otherwise not be possible.”