Last month, KW Hab welcomed Minister Monte McNaughton and MPP Mike Harris for the announcement of an over $300,000 investment to our future LEG Up! to Retail program! The new and exciting program, funded by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, is set to begin later this year.

The LEG Up! To Retail program, created in collaboration with Project Read,  empowers people to find rewarding work in their community through an eight-week training program. Participants will be taught important retail skills like customer service, completing sales transactions, retail math, and communication. General employment knowledge like job professionalism, coping with feelings, conflict resolution, and finding a work-life balance will also be taught.

The goal of LEG Up! to Retail is to connect job seekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying careers close to home. Once participants successfully complete the program, they are then given support.

Taking place at 99 Ottawa St, the announcement comes at a time when local retailers in Waterloo Region are feeling the effects of labour shortages.  Over the past six months,  job postings for retail-related positions in Waterloo Region have increased by about 50% compared to a year earlier.

It will include up to $500 in support for each participant to ensure disability-related services and needs are met. Participants can also receive financial support for travel expenses, and access mentorship and mental health services through a job coach and workshops.