MHCA applauds provincial grant decision to BUILD Inc.

The MHCA, along with its partners in the City of Winnipeg social procurement working group, applauded the decision by the government of Manitoba this week to extend bridge funding to BUILD Inc, a social enterprise employment training program.

“We have worked with BUILD, other social enterprise groups and construction industry stakeholders extensively in shaping the City of Winnipeg’s social procurement action plan,” said MHCA President and CEO Chris Lorenc. “We are very happy to see BUILD will continue training individuals who are from those very communities we hope to employ.”

BUILD trains individuals struggling to enter the labour market. Many of the trainees are Indigenous people, or those leaving incarceration and facing a steep climb to gainful employment.

BUILD is working with MHCA and Winnipeg Construction Association in an effort to press the province to align its education and training programs and grant mechanisms with the goals of Winnipeg’s social procurement plan.

Winnipeg’s social procurement policy intends to spread the benefits of its $400-million annual procurement program to targeted equity groups, such as Indigenous, women, newcomers and LGBTQ2S+ individuals.

“We’re very glad that BUILD is back in business with the $250,000 in government financing,” Lorenc said. “We have a good relationship and need to work on training individuals for construction positions where they can get a strong introduction and work toward lucrative careers in the industry.”