NB 1598
Dec. 21, 2006
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Applications for the Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) program are now available for students wishing to get a head start on their summer job search, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty announced today.
"It is an unusual item to add to a holiday to-do list, but students will not regret it," Doherty said. "I encourage all students entering a post-secondary school next fall to pick up an application for our department's SEED program. As always, we begin the application process in late December so that students who study outside New Brunswick have a chance to apply while they are home for the holidays."
The provincially funded program provides summer jobs to eligible students in provincial government departments and agencies, municipal and First Nations offices, and non-profit organizations. Students entering a post-secondary program in the fall of 2007 are eligible to apply. SEED will provide to employers a wage supplement of $7.25 per hour to help eligible students gain work experience while earning a living during the summer months. Employers are encouraged to top up the wage whenever possible.
The minister also advised students to apply for the Student Entrepreneurship component of the SEED program. It provides assistance to those wanting to start their own summer business, including an interest-free loan of up to $3,000. If the loan is repaid on time and all program requirements have been met, the student entrepreneur may qualify for a reimbursement of one-third of his or her loan.
"Employment programs such as SEED and its Student Entrepreneurship component compliment our strategy of making New Brunswick a leader in economic development and getting the province on the road to self-sufficiency," Doherty said. "Retaining our young people begins with providing them opportunities to develop valuable workplace skills right here in New Brunswick. We want to help our post-secondary students establish relationships with employers that will serve them well when they graduate and enter the workforce full time."
Applications for the SEED program are now available at university campuses; community colleges; high schools; regional Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour offices; human resource service centres; and Service New Brunswick.
For more information on SEED and other employment programs and services for students, visit the Employment Programs and Services website.
06/12/21
MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn Hearn, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, 506-453-2568.
06/12/21