AAFC Career Focus Small Business Grants for Hiring in Agriculture & Agri-Food
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Career Focus Canadian small business grants for hiring are one of many Career Focus programs offered throughout Canada. The AAFC Career Focus initiative is a funding for agriculture and agri-food program geared towards helping to provide internships in their related sectors. Internship opportunities for post-secondary graduates across Canada help young people build career-related skills while offering employers the opportunity to hire a knowledgeable young post-secondary graduate.
AAFC Canadian Small Business Grants for Hiring Overview
Annually, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) contributes $864,000 towards supporting the AAFC Career Focus program in its sector. The funding provides hiring opportunities for approximately 80 internships across Canada. Funding for this program is available through an annual application process that occurs in the fall of each year. Internships start in April of the following year.
AAFC Career Focus Canadian Business Grants for Hiring Purpose
The purpose of offering Career Focus small business grants Canada through the AAFC is to provide students with a meaningful work experience in the agriculture or agri-food industry. The intent is that this work experience will enable the new graduates to attain full-time permanent work more easily following the internship. The internships can last from 4 – 12 months with candidates working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Wage subsidy funding from the program will support up to 50% of the intern’s salary to a maximum of $20,000. Employers must match the requested grant funding dollar for dollar.
Canada Small Business Grants for Hiring Eligibility
To be eligible for small business grants funding under the AAFC Career Focus program, employers must be involved in the agriculture or agri-food industry as one of the following: farm business, industry, not-for-profit, provincial and municipal government, association, board, counsel, college or university.
Eligible interns of the Career Focus program must be:
- Between the ages of 15 and 30,
- Unemployed/underemployed at the time of the hire,
- A Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.
In addition, an intern must be a recent graduate, in the last 3 years, from an agriculture-related program in a university, college or CEGEP or a provincial program focusing on biological, agricultural and veterinary science or applied technology.
Small Business Grants Canada Timeline for Applications
The application process for CCAA small business grant s for hiring recent grads for 2014 internships begins October 1, 2013 and will remain open until November 13, 2013. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis, pending available funding. At the time of the application, a candidate is not required. Within two months of project acceptance, the employer must have hired a candidate and have provided that information, and proof of education and citizenship to the AAFC.
Learn More about CCAA Canadian Government Grants for Hiring
Find out more about this program and get started on your business’ application.
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