A new Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada grant program has been launched in support of youth, officials said.
The Youth Employment and Skills Program will provide funding to organizations for the creation of agricultural internships that provide career-related work experiences to youth and youth facing barriers.
Approved projects will be eligible to receive 50 per cent of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $14,000 in matching funds.
Approved applicants that are non-profit or Indigenous are eligible to receive 80 per cent up to a maximum of $14,000, as are projects aimed at hiring youth facing barriers.
Eligible employers are organizations that can offer projects that will give employees agriculture career-related work experience in Canada and/or skills acquisitions through mentoring and coaching.
“Projects must offer the employee meaningful work (internship) that should last a minimum of four months and must be completed by March 31, 2020,” officials said. “The project must last long enough to give the employee significant experience and possibly lead to long-term employment or self-employment.”
Eligible youths must be 30 years or younger at the start of internship, must be currently unemployed or underemployed, and have not participated in other youth employment and skills strategy programs.
Youths facing barriers are those living with a disability, Indigenous, living in a low-income household, or living with family care responsibilities.
For more information on the program, call 1-877-246-4682.
