Career-Ready with CTMA:
Expanding Opportunities
Funding 50% of Wages Paid Up to $5,000 per Placement
The Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program provides non-repayable contributions to eligible employers to subsidize the wages of new hires or the upskilling of existing employees that meet the program eligibility. Funding is 50% of wages paid to a maximum of $5,000 for each EWP.
Administered by the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA), the hiring grant supports Ontario’s precision metalworking sector by helping employers hire and deliver meaningful work experiences. The goal is to provide participants with real-world work experience that improves their employability by building their knowledge and skills.
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Career-Ready with CTMA
Amount of Funding
- Funding that employers receive from the Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program is a non-repayable grant.
- Applicants can apply for incentives for up to 12 candidates.
- The duration of each Experiential Work Placement (EWP) can be 10 to 16 weeks. Up to three consecutive EWPs for each participant will be permitted.
- The fund will provide incentives to employers of 50% of wages paid up to $5,000 for each Experiential Work Placement; for 2 consecutive EWPs – up to $10,000, and for 3 consecutive EWPs – up to $15,000.
- Wage support from all sources, including the Co-operative Education Tax Credit, cannot exceed the total wages paid for any individual work placement.
- Funding will be distributed through a Training Placement Agreement signed by the employer, the participant, and the CTMA.
- Employers can stack these funds with federal programs for up to 100% of employment costs.
Career-Ready with CTMA
Eligible Applicants
To qualify for Career-Ready with CTMA funding, employers and their candidates both need to be deemed eligible.
Employer Eligibility
To be eligible for funding through the Career Ready with CTMA program, Employers must be licensed to operate in Ontario, provide training in Ontario which is related to a job that is located in Ontario, comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act, maintain appropriate WSIB insurance coverage; and have adequate third-party general liability insurance.
Target companies include SME’s who are part of the Precision Metalworking Sector and whose primary business is focused on the design, manufacture, repair, or assembly of products in at least one of the following areas:
- Tool & Die Manufacturing;
- Mould Making;
- Precision Machining;
- Gauge and/or Fixture Building;
- Additive Manufacturing / Rapid Prototyping;
- Automation / Robotics Manufacturing;
- Machine Tool Building; or
- Cutting Tools Sales & Service.
Priority will be given to members of the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA); however, the program is open to all businesses in Ontario that meet the minimum threshold outlined above.
Employers must have a candidate before applying and have identified a job title with a corresponding job description. If an employer requires assistance in finding a candidate, they are encouraged to contact Robert Cattle, Executive Director at CTMA (rcattle@ctma.com).
Employers must hire each candidate on a full-time basis, pay them an hourly rate of at least minimum wage (currently $15/hour), and provide WSIB coverage.
Candidate Eligibility
Eligible candidates must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent residency status in Canada; be a resident of Ontario; and be eligible to work in Canada and meet the following definitions:
- New Apprentice – an individual who will be enrolled in a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) and will receive trades training as part of an apprenticeship program in the precision metalworking trades.
- High School Graduate – an individual from an Ontario secondary school who has completed Grade 12 and is ready to explore the career opportunities available in the precision metalworking trades.
- High School Student – an individual who is currently enrolled in an Ontario high school technological education specialty program that is specific to the precision metalworking sector; who can work full-time (at least 35 hours per week); and is able to receive a wage of at least $15.00/hr.
- Post-Secondary Graduate – an individual who has recently completed their academic
program of study at a post-secondary institution in Canada. - Post-Secondary Co-Op Student – an individual who is currently enrolled in any diploma, certificate, or degree program, in any year of study, at a post-secondary institution in Canada.
- Upskill an Existing Employee – an existing employee who is looking for advancement within the same company.
- Displaced Worker – individuals who have been displaced from a previous position due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Job Seeker – an individual who is unemployed and seeking full time employment in the precision metalworking sector.
Career-Ready with CTMA
Eligible Positions
All positions funded through the Career-Ready with CTMA program must:
- Be full-time and between 10 weeks and 16 weeks in duration;
- Begin no earlier than April 1, 2022 and all placement(s) must be completed by March 24, 2023 (employment can continue after the funding period has ended);
- Pay candidates at least $15/hour for the duration of the program; and
Eligible employers can apply for funding to support manufacturing-related roles, including:
- Tool and die manufacturing;
- Mould making;
- Building gauges and fixtures;
- Machine tool building;
- 3D printing and additive manufacturing;
- CNC machining/precision metal working;
- Robotics and automation;
- PLC programmers;
- Design/Engineering;
- CAD/CAM – Computer-assisted design / Computer-assisted manufacturing;
- Software development / Information technology;
- Advanced cutting tool manufacturing; and
- Other: Finance, Administration, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, Program Management, etc.
Career-Ready with CTMA
Program Deadline
- Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Each placement must be 10 weeks to 16 weeks in length.
- Employment can continue after the funding period.
- See official program page for more details.
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