The province says up to 25 British Columbians affected by the downturn in the forestry sector will be able train and gain work experience in asphalt and heavy construction.

It’s due to more than $450,000 in funding from the province.

“We know that heavy equipment operators and similar construction occupations will be in great demand over the next 10 years,” said Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

The programs will be overseen by the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115, in partnership with Emil Anderson Construction, Dawson Blacktop and Dawson Group. People in the Clearwater, Merritt, South Cariboo, and Kamloops areas will be able to benefit.

“Providing new skills to workers is a much-needed solution to addressing the worker shortage in B.C.,” said IUOE Local 115 Business Manager, Brian Cochrane. “The IUOE Local 115 is a leader in teaching new workers heavy equipment operating skills and is proud to be working with the B.C. government to train them to rise above in B.C.’s Interior communities.”

Eligible participants will have in-class instruction in computer and communications skills, along with technical training in asphalt paving and heavy equipment operations, and on-the-job work experience with an IUOE Local 115 signatory employer.

There will also be follow-up support and mentoring to help participants find jobs either in road-building or the heavy-construction industry.

Recruitment for the Roadworks in the B.C. Interior Project Based Labour Market Training (PBLMT) project is set to Feb. 18 and April 6, 2020, with start dates in Kamloops and 100 Mile House.

The province says there are 25 participants in the two projects, and people who want to apply should contact their local WorkBC centre or the IUOE Training Association.