The Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Development and Technology, said PEI Business Development Inc. will offer financial assistance to small businesses to prepare effective human resource strategies to recruit, hire and maintain skilled workers.

“Small businesses on Prince Edward Island are facing challenges in training and retaining a solid workforce,” said Minister Brown. “Innovative human resource policies are necessary for Island businesses to continue competing at a high level in today’s ever-changing global marketplace.”

The Human Resource Planning Program will assist new and existing small businesses acquire technical advisory support and guidance to assess the company’s current human resource program and make recommendations that will allow companies to develop long-term human resource policies for the recruitment and retention of employees.

Prince Edward Island businesses, in all sectors, that do not presently have formal human resource policies in place may be eligible for up to $1,000 in assistance. Applicants must be sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives or limited liability companies with well-developed business plans.

The Human Resource Implementation Program is designed to assist new, existing and expanding small and medium-sized businesses to implement well-defined human resource strategies. This will build value in the company through enhanced human resource skills capacity.

This program will provide financial assistance to Prince Edward Island businesses looking to acquire the professional expertise to design, develop and implement a human resource plan. Up to 50 per cent of the cost to a maximum allowable assistance of $5,000 is available to eligible businesses.

The Human Resource Planning and Implementation programs will be administered by Business Development Officers specializing in one-on-one counseling across the Island through PEI Business Development Incorporated.

Application forms are available from Business Development Officers, Access PEI centres and online at www.peibusinessdevelopment.com/index.php3?number=63540