ESDC — Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for businesses like yours to help recruit, retain, and support women apprentices in the skilled trades. By participating, you can receive up to $3,000,000 in funding for projects lasting up to 48 months. This funding can be used to create partnerships, organize women-led events, and offer mentorship opportunities, all aimed at helping women succeed in the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
Why Apply?
- Significant Funding: Up to $3,000,000 available for your project.
- Long-Term Support: Funding for projects up to 48 months.
- Mentorship and Networking: Opportunities to connect with female role models and women-in-the-skilled-trades networks.
- Welcoming Work Environment: Create a comfortable and safe space for women in training and work sites.
Benefits to Your Business
- Enhanced Recruitment: Attract more women to your workforce.
- Increased Retention: Support women through their apprenticeship journey.
- Government-Backed: Reliable funding source with clear guidelines.
- Easy Qualification: If your business meets the criteria, applying is straightforward.
Participating in this program not only supports women in skilled trades but also strengthens your business by fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
This is a grant, so there are no repayment terms or interest rates. The funds provided do not need to be repaid.
Eligible Expenses:
The grant can be used for the following expenses:
- Organizing women-led events to promote the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
- Creating partnerships with women’s groups, community colleges, unions, or employers.
- Supporting women’s progression through a Red Seal apprenticeship.
- Offering mentorship by female role models and opportunities to share success stories.
- Creating a welcoming workplace where women can feel comfortable and safe.
- Providing wrap-around supports such as guidance, tutoring, childcare support, and flexible childcare arrangements.
Ineligible Expenses:
The funds cannot be used for:
- Activities that are commercial in nature or intended to generate profit.
- Projects that do not align with the program’s objectives and eligible activities.
Fees:
There are no fees associated with applying for or receiving this grant.
Qualifications
- Must be located in Canada.
- Must be one of the following types of organizations:
- Union representing workers in Red Seal trades or an organization managing training funds for Red Seal trades workers.
- Not-for-profit organization.
- For-profit organization (provided the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives).
- Municipal government.
- Indigenous organization (e.g., band council, tribal council, self-government entity).
- Provincial and territorial government (e.g., agency, institution, Crown corporation).
- Must target women apprentices in at least one of the 39 eligible Red Seal trades.
- Must have contributions from sources other than Employment and Social Development Canada:
- Cash contributions equal to or more than 10% of the total project cost, including the amount contributed by ESDC.
- In-kind contributions are acceptable in lieu of cash contributions if facing challenges such as remote location, limited access to infrastructure, or limited partnership opportunities.
- Must submit a complete application by December 1, 2022, at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- Must ensure the project meets the program objective and eligible project activities.
Must complete all questions on the Application for Funding form, Budget Detail Template, and Attestation (Part 4 of the application form).
Disqualifications:
- Cannot submit an application with the same project activities under the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) Innovation in Apprenticeship stream.
- Incomplete applications or those containing errors may be refused.
Description
This program offers your business a chance to receive up to $3,000,000 in funding over a period of up to 48 months. This money is specifically for projects that help recruit, retain, and support women apprentices in the skilled trades.
You can use the funding for:
- Creating partnerships with women’s groups, community colleges, unions, or employers.
- Organizing women-led events to attract more women to the trades.
- Offering mentorship by female role models and creating women-in-the-skilled-trades networks.
- Providing a safe and welcoming space for women in training and work sites.
This funding can help your business by creating a more diverse and skilled workforce. It supports your efforts to bring more women into the trades, which can lead to better retention and success rates for women apprentices.
The funding is non-repayable, meaning you do not have to pay it back, making it a valuable opportunity to invest in the future of your business and the skilled trades industry.
Program Steps
Read the Applicant Guide: Start by reading the applicant guide. This guide provides detailed instructions for each question on the application form.
Gather Supporting Documents and Information: Prepare the necessary documentation for your application. This includes:
- A complete Application for Funding form.
- A complete Budget Detail Template.
- If selected, a letter confirming cash or in-kind contributions from a source other than Employment and Social Development Canada.
Decide How to Apply: Choose your preferred method of application:
- Online: Register for a Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account using your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number. Follow the User Guide for instructions on creating and registering your account. Once registered, you can apply and submit your funding application online.
- Email or Mail: Download and complete the Application for Funding form and Budget Detail Template. Complete the attestation (part 4 of the application form). Send your complete application package to the provided email or mailing address.
Submit the Application: Depending on your chosen method, submit your application:
- Online: Access your GCOS account, answer all application questions, and upload the completed budget detail template.
- Email: Send your application to [email protected].
- Mail: Send your application to the Coordination Unit Mailstop 402, National Grants and Contributions Delivery Centre (NGCDC), 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV 4th Floor, Gatineau QC K1A 0J9.
Review and Confirmation: After submission, you will receive a confirmation of receipt:
- Online: An automatic confirmation.
- Email: An automatic confirmation by email.
- Mail: A confirmation by email within 14 calendar days of the closing date of the call.
Await Funding Decision: The review and assessment of your application will take place. Funding decisions are expected in spring 2023, with notifications sent by email within 12 to 22 weeks from the end of the submission period.
First Payment: If approved, the first payment will be issued within 14 calendar days of a signed agreement by both parties. Subsequent payments will follow within 14 calendar days of receiving a completed claim package for contribution projects.
