Windsor funding expands pre-apprenticeship spots and upgrades trades training

What’s happening

• The province is investing more than $2.2 million in Windsor–Essex to expand apprenticeship pathways and upgrade training equipment.

Who it affects and where

• About 80 people in Windsor–Essex will get access to pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship training.
• The funding prioritizes women, youth and other underrepresented groups.

By the numbers

• Women's Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) — more than $1.56 million to train 60 women in electrical, HVAC, sheet metal and cement finishing trades.
• St. Clair College — more than $641,000 total: $291,065 for pre-apprenticeship training (about 20 participants) and $350,000 to upgrade CNC machining equipment and controls.
• International Association of Iron Workers — $53,720 to buy robotic surveying and monitoring technology for apprentices.

Why it matters

• Trainees will get hands-on practice with modern, industry-standard tools and tech used on today’s jobsites.
• The investment aims to grow the local skilled-trades workforce needed by construction, manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Other notes

• These grants come through the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program and the Apprenticeship Capital Grant, supported by federal-provincial labour market transfer agreements.