Six local municipalities will be working together to address labour shortages in the region through the Rural Renewal Stream Program.
The Town of Taber is the lead municipality on the program, which is offered through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, with Lethbridge County, the MD of Taber, Coaldale, Vaxhaul and Picture Butte as partners.
The idea is to attract and recruit newcomers to rural communities and help fill the labour shortages businesses are facing. Participating businesses will apply to hire eligible workers and are expected to offer full-time jobs for at least one year, with competitive compensation and benefits. Newcomers who wish to apply for permanent residency through this program will work and live in the designated community and need the endorsement from the community.
County of Lethbridge Reeve Tory Campbell says having a program that is focused on attracting and retaining employees will help grow the local economy.
“We thank the Town of Taber for including Lethbridge County in the strategy to address this issue. This is a truly collaborative approach to a regional challenge,” Campbell says.
More information can be found on the Town of Taber’s website.