A pilot project to help people with autism find meaningful, long-term employment has received an additional three million dollars in government funding to expand the initiative to more areas of the province.

Avalon Employment’s Transitions for Individuals with Autism project is already helping more than 30 people find jobs, earning the United Nations’ Zero Project award for innovative, impactful solutions that remove barriers to employment.

The program is currently offered in the St. John’s area, Clarenville, Gambo, Deer Lake, and Labrador West.

But the new funding from both the federal and provincial governments will see it expand to six other regions including Corner Brook, Carbonear, Glovertown, Grand Falls-Windsor, New-Wes-Valley and Channel-Port-aux-Basques.

The funding was approved through the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Development Agreement.