YMCA High Demand Youth Internship Program Small Business Grants

The YMCA High Demand Youth Internship Program (HD-YIP) small business grants program is sponsored by Human Resources and Skill Development Canada (HRSDC) and delivered through the YMCA. HD-YIP small business grants for hiring recent grads program aims to offer young professionals the opportunity to develop important skills while building confidence through the guidance and support of a qualified and experienced mentor.  As the name of the program suggests, the HD-YIP government small business grants focus on supporting internships in fields that are in demand and poised for continued growth.   Some of the wide variety of fields that HD YIP encompasses include:  knowledge-based technology, manufacturing, construction, retail trade, accounting, and more.  Contact a Canadian government funding expert to find out whether your company’s position qualifies.

Small Business Grants for Hiring Employer Eligibility

In order to be deemed eligible for YMCA government grants for small business program the applicant firm must:

• Be a ‘For Profit’ business operating in Canada,
• Have been in business for at least 2 years,
• Have a minimum of 5 full-time employees,
• Have (and provide proof of) a minimum of $2 million general liability insurance,
• Be able to maintain acceptable records in order to allow YMCA to audit and monitor the internship’s progress,
• Operate in commercially leased/owned space where the intern will have an appropriate work environment,
• Conduct a company and position orientation and training, including Young Worker Awareness related to Occupational Health & Safety,
• Ensure staff comply with legislation such as with respect to Human Rights, Harassment and Discrimination,
• Hosts will enter into a Host Service Agreement with the YMCA and all required documents must be in place prior to intern commencing internship,
• Eligible firms will be licensed to operate according to municipal/provincial/territorial/federal regulations.

YMCA Canadian Small Business Grants Details

• Participating employers will be reimbursed $8.00 per hour from the Federal Government for hiring an intern,
• The minimum a YMCA intern can earn is set at $16/hr,
• Interns must be hired for a 16 week period (starting no later than November 18th-priority will be given to firms that hire for longer than 16 weeks),
• The intern must work a minimum of 30 hours per week to a maximum of 40 hours per week,
• Underemployed Youth: Candidates can be currently employed in either a PT or FT role if it’s unrelated to their education or intended career path,
• There is no cap on the number of applications per employer,
• Reimbursement: Occurs at the end of the internship period (approximately 3 weeks from internship end date),

In order to receive the YMCA wage subsidy employers must also agree to the following:

• Pay the Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCS).
• Place Interns in a pre-existing available position (i.e., currently vacant),
• Give consideration to hiring the intern for a full time position concluding the internship,
• The applicant firm would not have considered inexperienced youth for this position in the absence of the wage subsidy.

YMCA Government Grants for Small Business Hiring -Intern Eligibility

In order to qualify for this Canadian government funding for small business program interns must:

• Be in between the ages of 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of the placement
• A post-secondary graduate (2 year minimum) of a college or university
• Be willing to commit to a full time internship
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Legally entitled to work in Canada
• Not in receipt of employment insurance (EI) during the time of hire

Learn More about The YMCA High Demand Youth Internship Program

Choose from one of the following in order to find out more on the YMCA HD-YIP:

Find Additional Small Business Grants and Small Business Loans Ontario Programs through Mentor Works

Learn more about the many Canadian business grants and small business loans options that are available to help your company grow and prosper.   Sign up for our Canadian government funding e-newsletter.  If you are in Southern Ontario, sign up find out if you qualify to attend a free Canadian government funding workshop.   And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.