When exporting is done right, it’s an investment that can grow your business and pay dividends for years to come. While scaling up your production & fulfillment infrastructure and human resource capacity can be costly, there are a variety of funding solutions that can make exporting a much more accessible growth option. Today we’re going to look at some of the hiring grants available that can assist you in scaling up to meet your export goals. 

Student & Summer Hiring Grants

1) Canada Summer Jobs Program

Run by the Government of Canada through Employment & Social Development Canada, the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program provides wage subsidies to create quality summer work experiences for those aged 15 to 30. The costs eligible for reimbursement depend on what sector the employer belongs to. Eligible employers include not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees. As stated in the CSJ applicant guide, Service Canada expects an average funded job duration of 8 weeks and for 35 hours per week.

Because placements are meant to allow young persons the opportunity to develop their skills and experience, applications must demonstrate that:

  •     You are committed to retaining the staff beyond the subsidy period; or you are paying wages above those of the minimum in your province;
  •     The position is supervised, with ongoing mentorship to allow for skills development;
  •     Your business has implemented health & safety and work environment policies to ensure a safe, respectful workplace.
  •     For the full criteria list, visit the Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy webpage

Applications open in December/January of the preceding year, and typically close before the end of January. The program is competitive, so applicants are encouraged to prepare for the application process well before this period.

2) Work Integrated Learning Digital Subsidy

The Work Integrated Learning Program (WIL) helps employers grow their businesses by providing wage subsidies for hiring post-secondary students. WIL provides a wage subsidy of 50% up to a maximum of $5,000, or 70% up to a maximum of $7,000 for underrepresented students.

The student must be a domestic student and enrolled at an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution throughout the placement.

3) Mitacs

Mitacs is a national non-profit which assists students, Canadian academic institutions, and SMEs with research, development, and marketization of innovative commercial goods. Their Talent program provides wage subsidies which allow you to hire the specialised talent required to get your products to market, while their Market program covers 50% of your marketization project costs.

Export Navigator Can Help

Whether you’re looking for wage subsidies, commercialization, or integrated learning funding assistance to grow your business, there are a variety of government & non-profit solutions available. Have questions or want support with your funding applications? Reach out to us to learn more about these, and other funding solutions.