SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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ALTONA- RHINELAND
on the SEED website where they upload their resumé. The resumés are then forwarded to a participating employer who conducts their standard hiring practices. When a successful candidate receives a job offer through the program, they apply to SEED for community recommendations. A job offer letter and community recommendation are required to apply for a work permit or permanent resident status. Each applicant is vetted and scored on a comprehensive priority points grid. The RNIP helps navigate the immigration process by being a dedicated service channel provider through Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The program also has built-in supports to assist newcomers in adjusting, such as employer pickup at the airport, a mentorship program in the workplace, connection with a community mentor and regional connection settlement services to help apply for a social insurance number, provincial health benefits or language classes.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMMIGRATION IN RURAL MANITOBA
Altona-Rhineland is a region with just over 10,000 people. With more than 300 businesses in five major industry sectors — agriculture, manufacturing, construction, food processing and financial services — the area has a very low unemployment rate. Stephanie Harris, economic development officer with Supporting Entrepreneurs, Economic Development (SEED), says that without immigration, it would be challenging for businesses to continue to operate, succeed and grow. In 2019, SEED launched a program called the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). “The immigration program is a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to live within our community. The pilot is designed to support economic development within our community and strengthen our businesses’ capacity to develop and retain a skilled workforce,” Harris explains. A candidate creates a profile
BY KRISTIN MARAND
IMMIGRANTS ARE VITAL TO GROWING THE POPULATION AND THE ECONOMY. N ewcomers are also a fantastic resource for industries looking to fill current labour shortages or proactively planning to maintain their workforce in the face of retirement and technological or other changes. Three Manitoba locales are leveraging their livability to attract newcomers in order to grow — Altona, Steinbach and Winkler are all working to help employers find the right talent and help families settle into rural life.
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WINTER 2023
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