Friesens Corporation was one of multiple companies to receive funds from the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant.

The grant money is used for training new and existing employees, which Friesens Training Coordinator Dana Bergman said can be more challenging in a rural area.

This is the third year the Altona-based company has received funding from the grant, and Friesens was involved with the grant from the very beginning.

"We actually sat in on a focus group to talk about how the grant should be deployed, what kind of training was important for Manitobans and for businesses in Manitoba," said Bergman.

"Because we're in a centre outside of Winnipeg, some things are just harder to access here, and training is one of things," she added.

Some training initiatives at Friesens include leadership training, corporate training known as Print Fair, English language training, equipment training, health and safety, and various other skills training.

"All of the training that our managers have gone through has had some level of funding through the Canada-Manitoba Job grant, and that's been huge," she said.

The company also works closely with Workplace Education Manitoba to provide Essential Skills to staff, especially to workers whose first language is not English.

Bergman said she was also able to further her education through Friesens, noting she went back to university a number of years ago to complete an Adult and Continuing Education certificate.

"There's a big opportunity here for training at a variety of different levels," she said.

Bergman also believes continuous training is especially important because jobs and businesses are always evolving.

Friesens received a total of $46,065 through the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant.

Other local areas that received funds are listed below.

- Career Trek, Winkler, $10,420
- Meridian Manufacturing Inc., Winkler, $33,111
- SteelTech Inc., Winkler, $11,302
- Elmer's Welding & Manufacturing Ltd., Altona, $60,343
- Greenland Equipment Ltd., Carman, $46,871
- Nakonechny & Power Chartered Professional Accountants Ltd., Carman, $26,653
- Southest Air Service Ltd., Altona, $10,000