Talks are underway to develop a facility that will train some residents of Bruce and Grey Counties to get the job skills they need.
The province has provided extra funding for its Employment Supports budget that helps certain people get the basic skills they need to get work.
Bruce County will get over 49 thousand dollars each year for two years through the program, which is designed to help at risk youth, those with mental health issues, aboriginal people, those fleeing domestic abuse, and new immigrants.
Social Services Director Terry Sanderson says more preliminary work is needed, but they’re hoping to develop a model that leads to a joint job training facility with Grey County.
Sanderson says the timing is right because provincial funding is available and many social services clients face challenges getting into the workforce because of limitations.
He says those limitations include a lack of job skills, education and practical experience, and that it would pay off in the end if people were able to get it.
The joint training centre would run until 2011.
The Social Services Committee of Bruce County Council has authorized staff to continue talking with Grey County about the proposal.