Northern Ontario organization, Friends of Algonquin, have successfully leveraged wage subsidies for hiring a recent post-secondary graduate throughout 2015. The association, who provides advocacy and educational services, hired a youth intern for a one-year period to develop outreach programs that encourage tourism, as well as build a database encompassing photographs and artifacts from the park. Thanks to a FedNor subsidized internship, Friends of Algonquin were able to recover $31,500 of the recent graduate’s wages, greatly reducing their overall financial requirement. Through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP), Algonquin Park has developed new tourism programs which will help spur new investments in the region for years to come.
Related Blog: Northern Ontario Government Funding for Small Business: FedNor Grants – Northern Ontario government funding is available to a range of organizations and small businesses. Explore a range of programs to enhance business performance.
Youth Employment a Priority for Northern Ontario Small Business Funding
The federal and provincial governments have prioritized youth unemployment issues and developed incentives for employers who are willing to hire a recent post-secondary graduate. Wage subsidies are available to offset up to half or more of a youth’s internship wage. This strategy will help to prepare Ontario’s next generation of working adults.
“The Government of Canada is proud to invest in initiatives that create jobs for young Canadians and maximize the economic potential of Northern Ontario tourism assets.”
– The The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Among the benefits of having a youth intern, Friends of Algonquin will be able to generate sustained tourism revenue for the Algonquin region. The organization will be able to implement new outreach programs and utilize enhanced resources to continue growing northern Ontario’s appeal.
“Hiring a qualified youth intern provided a tremendous boost to our organization and we look forward to the positive results this project will continue to deliver for the region.”
– Lee Pauzé, General Manager, The Friends of Algonquin Park
Maximize Wage Incentives with a Proactive Funding Plan
Wage subsidies are a popular form of government funding that are often tailored towards hiring youth graduates. Through these wage subsidies, businesses can significantly reduce their labour fees while providing opportunities to energetic young Canadians. Knowing when to apply for this Canadian government funding will maximize the likelihood of funding success. To capitalize on these programs, businesses must begin recruiting youth early in the year and should be able to commit to hiring new employees by early summer. To check your eligibility against all of the available wage subsidies currently available, check the Wage Subsidy Identifier to gain insight into hiring grants to help fund your business’ new hires.
Recruiting Resource: How to Find and Recruit Top Talent – To grow a successful company, Canadian businesses must constantly search for top talent. This resource will help you find the best job board for your posting, and also identify strategies to recover the new hire’s wages.