Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the provincial government is providing Sheridan College with more than $500,000 to create additional apprenticeship spaces at Brampton’s Davis Campus.

During a January 31 news conference on campus, Ford revealed a $559,837 investment for the college’s general machinist and industrial mechanic millwright pre-apprenticeship programs that would create placements for an additional 50 students.

The funding is part of an overall $20.8 million the government is investing in the province’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program. An annual spending increase of $2.5 million this year is creating an additional 200 placements, according to the government.

Ford and his Progressive Conservative government have launched a marketing campaign to promote skilled trades as high demand, well-paid careers.