As many as 20 recent graduates of programs in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) will be hired with the support of Canadian Government funding. Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Parliament for Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), was on hand to announce the funding of up to $216,842 for a new project at Wilfred Laurier University (WLU) to create internships for recent grads.
Graduate Enterprise Internship – iSTEM Program Details
The program being funded at WLU is called the Graduate Enterprise Internship (GEI), however it is also referred to as the iSTEM Program, which stands for Internships for Science, Technical, Engineering, and Math grads. iSTEM is available to incorporated companies within Ontario to support their technical talent base. The fund allows companies to hire STEM undergraduate students and graduates for a 6-month internship.
There are two streams available through “iSTEM”
- Bachelor’s Grad: $10,000 or 50% of wages
- Master’s/Ph.D Grad: $15,000 or 50% of wages
Companies can begin the application process for these Ontario business grants by contacting a Canadian government funding expert with a job description for the position you wish to have covered by the small business grant.
Other Top Grants for Hiring Recent Grads Programs
IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP)
Candidate Focus: Any new, unique role within your organization
One of the best Small business funding grants for hiring is the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) Youth Employment Program (YEP). This 12-month internship program covers up to $15,000, or 50% of up to two interns’ salaries. This program is open to candidates of all disciplines.
Eligible Interns must:
- Have a post-secondary degree or diploma; and,
- Be younger than 31 years old
ICTC Career Focus Government Funding for Business
Candidate Focus: Information & Communication Technology
The ICTC Careeer Focus funding is fully depleted from 2012, but 2013 funding is expected to be released in the near future. This wage subsidy is a great option for companies looking to overhaul their online presence through initiatives such as a new website, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, or taking part in any software development or IT-related projects. Career Focus covers 50% of the successful candidate’s wage, up to $12,750 for a 4-8 month internship. For more information please Contact Mentor Works or ICTC.
Connect with Canadian Government Funding Experts
Contact a Canadian government funding expert today to learn more about Small business grants Ontario and small business loans Ontario. And don’t forget to sign up for our Canadian government funding Weekly E-newsletter. You can view our posts by following us on Twitter.