The provincial government announced Wednesday it will help as many as 300 college students pay tuition costs for trades programs at four B.C. postsecondary schools, including the College of New Caledonia.

The $2 million Labour Market StudentAid B.C. Grant annual program is offering financial incentives of as much as $6,500 per student to fund training for high-demand occupations identified in the B.C. Jobs Plan, including mining, oil and gas, and transportation.

Students must already be enrolled in their programs to qualify. The value of the grants, awarded in two payments, will be based on financial need.

The CNC programs eligible for the grant are: power engineering, third and fourth class certificate; heavy-duty mechanics/commercial transport mechanical repair foundation; industrial mechanic(millwright)/machinist foundation; and mining industry certificate.

Grants are also available for students at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek for the following programs: heavy-duty/commercial transport (mechanic) technician foundation; power engineering and gas processing; oil and gas field operations; and millwright foundation.

The grant program also applies to Northwest Community College in Terrace -- heavy-duty equipment technician/commercial transport mechanic foundation; millwright/industrial mechanic foundation; driller and blaster for mining; mining and mineral processing operator -- while the commercial transport mechanic program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops will also be sponsored.