Skills Catalyst Fund: Up to $500k in Funding for Workforce Development
technology, globalization, and demographics, it’s important to continue to invest in its people to ensure a competitive labour economy. To support these opportunities, there are new innovative development initiatives taking place. One of these is a recent grant called the Skills Catalyst Fund, which funds focused solutions and projects that support better employment and employability outcomes for Ontario employees and employers.
Successful applicants of the Skills Catalyst Fund may receive up to 80% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $500,000.
The program supports Ontario consortiums in the development and implementation of innovative workforce development projects that test new and emerging ideas and approaches to labour market challenges. The Skills Catalyst Fund is now open and accepting applications until January 27, 2020.
About the Skills Catalyst Fund
The Skills Catalyst Fund is designed to promote strong employment or employability outcomes for participants: build meaning partnerships, help all people, encourage innovative ideas and solutions, and provide the tools, skills, opportunities, and experiences needed to thrive in the current and future workforce.
Those applying may receive up to 80% of eligible training expenses to a maximum $500,000 in Ontario grant funding.
Applicant Eligibility
- Ontario Non-Profits or For-Profits including industry associations and unions
- Must be part of a consortium with two or more partners
- Consortium must include partners from two of three partner types: Training or Education Providers, Employers, or Business Support or Development Organizations (LEDs, Chamber of Commerce)
Eligible Projects
Projects eligible for the Skills Catalyst Fund are to respond to one or more of the following themes:
- Supporting Job Pathways
- Partnership Development
- Employer-Led Investments in Training
- Developing Skills and Competencies
There is an interest in proposals that focus on:
- Incenting localized solutions to unique local or regional labour market issues;
- Promoting strong employment or employability outcomes for participants; and
- Supporting the labour market participation of all participants, with a particular focus on Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, youth, newcomers, and veterans.
Eligible Expenses
- Wages for staff administering the project
- Partnership Development
- Marketing and Promotion
- Materials, tools, techniques, approaches and development costs
- Supports for participants (up to 30% of wages to a maximum of $3,000 per participant)
- Administrative costs related to project delivery (cannot exceed 15% of total project cost)
Apply for the Skills Catalyst Fund
The Skills Catalyst Fund has an upcoming deadline of January 27, 2020.
Please contact Mentor Works if you are interested in leveraging this program for upcoming training initiatives or workforce development. We’ll help you determine your eligibility.