Canada-Alberta Job Grant: Training Grants for Workforce Development

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) provides Alberta provincial government funding to help Alberta-based employers invest in training initiatives supporting workforce development. The program is a provincial variant of the Canada Job Grant, which aims to address specific training needs of employees across Canada. CAJG administers Alberta government grants to support third-party training initiatives that allow employers to improve the skills of new and existing employees.

The program provides employers with up to 66% coverage of eligible third-party training costs to a maximum grant of $10,000 per trainee. These training grants can be used to access employee training programs that allow businesses to further develop their workforce, leading to enhanced productivity and company capabilities.

Employers accessing the Canada-Alberta Job Grant often invest in ERP systems training, lean manufacturing skills, and customer service training. This is by no means a definitive list, but are just a few of the most common third-party training programs supported.

Canada-Alberta Job Grant Provides Funding for Training

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant makes it easier for employers to invest in workforce training. These Alberta government grants offset third-party training program costs, ultimately helping employers implement more high-quality training programs.

Employers in Alberta may apply to receive up to 66% coverage of eligible third-party training costs to a maximum contribution of $10,000 in government grants per trainee.

Eligible businesses can access the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program to invest in the following types of training programs:

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems;
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma;
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software;
• ISO Quality Management Systems;
• Customer Service; and
• Management and Leadership.

Employers are required to use a third-party training provider to deliver the formal training either onsite, online, or in a classroom setting.

Canada-Alberta Job Grant Program Eligibility Requirements

Businesses Eligible for CAJG

Businesses eligible for CAJG training grants must be formed as either an Alberta-based:

• Individual private sector employer;
• Non-profit employer;
• Crown agency based in communities where the population is less than 100,000; or
• First Nations or Métis Settlement.

Employees Eligible for CAJG Training

To participate in the program, all trainees must be a(n):

• Employee of the business (either new or existing);
• Resident of Alberta;
• Canadian citizen;
• Permanent resident or protected person; or
• Employer-sponsored employee.

Ineligible Trainees

Specific trainees will be ineligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant if they are:

• Major shareholders within the company;
• Temporary foreign workers;
• Any member of the applicant’s family;
• Members of the applicant’s board of council; and
• Anyone who will not be employed by the applicant once training has concluded.

Canada-Alberta Job Grant Required Training Outcomes

By accessing CAJG training grants, employers must demonstrate how the training will:

• Impact an employee’s role/job title;
• Increase an employee’s salary;
• Provide the business with new abilities; and
• Support new job opportunities.

How to Apply for CAJG Workforce Training Grants

Eligible businesses can apply for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant by submitting an application package including the company’s overview and detailed training plans/quotes.

On average, it can take up to two to four weeks for an application package to be approved.

Once approved, companies will submit reimbursement forms to receive up to 33% of eligible training costs as their initial instalment. Once training has been completed, participants need to submit a training completion form to release the other 33% reimbursement.

Mentor Works can help to confirm your eligibility for the program and accelerate your application’s submission. If you are interested in learning more about the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, please contact Mentor Works.