Two projects to support and create jobs for B.C.'s aerospace and life sciences sectors just got more than $14.5 million in federal funding.
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning at the British Columbia Institute of Technology's (BCIT) Aerospace Technology campus in Richmond, which will be spearheading the projects. Funding will be provided through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan).
The first project is a new hands-on training program for gas turbine maintenance, repair and overhaul to address the industry's labour shortage. The federal Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative is providing more than $9.3 million in funding and is expected to be the first of its kind in North America.
"This investment is expected to create 160 new jobs and generate an additional $360 million in revenue in British Columbia by 2027," reads the media release.
BCIT is also getting $5.2 million from the federal government's Regional Innovation Ecosystems Program, as well as $2 million alleviate address skills shortages in the sector and address the lack of industry-recognized hands-on training in Western Canada.
The new training centre will provide training, professional development and talent for biotech companies in the region and is expected to train more than 700 people per year.
“The first step in building long-term prosperity is tackling short-term labour shortages," said Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development.
"The projects being announced today will deliver the trained, talented employees our biomanufacturing and aerospace sectors need to innovate and grow."
