Government of Canada Funding Helps Southern Ontario Graduates and Businesses Through New Internship Program

WELLAND, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 14, 2011) - Niagara College graduates will gain real-world business skills and experience through internships with businesses in the Niagara region, thanks to a new federal investment. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"Our government is committed to creating jobs and supporting economic growth in southern Ontario," said Minister Nicholson. "This internship program will allow graduates to enter the workforce, benefit from the experience of business leaders and become successful young entrepreneurs in the Niagara region."

"This federal investment will provide benefits for both our graduates and local employers. We're grateful that the federal government understands the important role that post-secondary education plays in keeping companies innovative, and the role that innovative companies have in our economic success," said Niagara College Acting President Steve Hudson. "Skilled graduates strengthen our economy with their technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skill, and help companies innovate and develop new products and processes. This investment will help businesses hire those skilled graduates."

Funding of up to $2,200,000 for Niagara College through FedDev Ontario's Graduate Enterprise Internship will allow the college to work with graduating students, graduates and local businesses to arrange up to 200 internships with structured mentoring opportunities. Companies will benefit from the technical knowledge of interns, who in turn will gain business experience to complement their scientific skills. For more information, please refer to the backgrounder.

FedDev Ontario was created as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to support businesses and communities in southern Ontario. Now in its third year of operation, the Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to support businesses and other organizations through partnerships and investments in skills and training; innovation; research and development; and increased productivity. To learn more, please visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

BACKGROUNDER

Contribution to Niagara College Canada

FedDev Ontario is providing Niagara College with up to $2,200,000 to arrange up to 200 six-month internships and contribute towards a salary of up to $10,000 for each intern. Small- and medium-sized businesses will contribute half of intern salary costs. The new internship program will help address changing labour market needs in the Niagara area, moving from traditional manufacturing to knowledge-based industries.

Niagara College plans to offer internships with structured mentoring opportunities for recent graduates from the following programs:

• Broadcasting - Radio, Television and Film
• Computer Programmer Analyst (Co-op)
• Construction Engineering Technology
• Electrical Engineering Technology (Co-op)
• Electronics Engineering Technology (Co-op)
• Game Development
• Graphic Design
• Mechanical Engineering Technology (Co-op)
• Photonics Engineering Technology
• Ecosystem Restoration
• Environmental Management and Assessment
• Geographic Information Systems – Geospatial Management

More information on Niagara College's internship program is available at https://mycareer.niagaracollege.ca/employer/incentives.htm.

Graduate Enterprise Internship

FedDev Ontario's Graduate Enterprise Internship initiative will build a pool of highly skilled workers in southern Ontario by providing business and management experience to graduate students and recent graduates of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Interns will benefit from working with business leaders who will share their knowledge and entrepreneurial expertise. Businesses will also benefit from the technical knowledge and skills of the interns, providing them with additional capacity to innovate.

Applications for Graduate Enterprise Internship funding are being accepted and assessed by FedDev Ontario on an ongoing basis. For more information, please refer to the program guidelines available on the web site at www.feddevontario.gc.ca.