Funding for Co-op Employers

There are a range of funding, grants, and tax credits available to support your hiring needs that can subsidize or sometimes cover student wages throughout their work term with you.  

Summer Funding Opportunities 

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 

Canada Summer Jobs provides wage subsidies to not-for-profit organizations, public sector organizations, and private sector employers with less than 50 employees to hire youth aged 15 - 30 in the summer months. The funding is available to employers across Canada. 

Not-for-profits can receive up to 100% of the of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs). Public and private sector organizations can receive up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. 

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO) 

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations is an employment program offering wage subsidies to employers who hire students for work placements in the heritage sector. YCWHO typically contributes 50% of total eligible employment costs, and if justified, may contribute up to 75% of eligible employment costs. The maximum YCWHO contribution is $10,000 per job. 

Applications are submitted through the Young Canada Works website to Delivery Organizations targeting specific groups of Heritage organizations. 

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (YCWBOL) 

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages is an employment program offering wage subsidies to employers conducting activities in both official languages to hire students. Employers can hire students from across Canada. YCWBOL will cover some costs associated with transportation and housing in addition to wages. YCWBOL may contribute up to 50% of the employment costs for youth hired by private and public sector organizations, and up to 70% for not-for-profit organizations. 

Applications are submitted through the Young Canada Works website to Delivery Organizations targeting specific regions of Canada. 

Specialized Funding Opportunities 

Business Benefits Finder

The Business Benefits Finder is a search tool to access funding and services from the Government of Canada. Businesses and Not-for-Profits can access this tool to support growth in the organization.

Funding Programs for Nonprofits Directory

The Funding Programs for Nonprofits Directory from Charity Village provides information on grants and funding from Government, Foundations and Corporate funding programs from across Canada.

Ontario Provincial Tax Credits & Incentives 
Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit 

The Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit is available to organizations that provided a qualifying work placement in Ontario for a student enrolled in a post-secondary co-op program. 

The tax credit is equivalent to a percentage of 25% to 30% of the eligible expenditures, including wages, for the work placement to a maximum of $3,000. 

This credit can be combined with other forms of funding like the Student Work Placement Program, for the portion of wages not covered by the funding source. 
 

Ontario Digital Media Tax Credit 

The Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) is a refundable tax credit based on labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution expenses claimed by a an eligible corporation with respect to interactive digital media products. 

A qualifying corporation is a Canadian corporation that develops an eligible product at a permanent establishment in Ontario operated by it. This includes Canada or foreign-owned corporations. 
 

Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit 

The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based on the qualifying labour expenditures incurred by an eligible production company for certain Ontario productions. To qualify, the corporation must be Canadian controlled. 

The credit amount depends on whether the production is a first-time production, a small first-time production, or other than a first-time production. 

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit 

Qualifying corporations can claim the refundable Ontario Innovation Tax Credit for eligible expenditures on scientific research and experimental development performed in Ontario. This can include costs associated with hiring a co-op student.  

Federal Tax Credits & Incentives 

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentives 

The SR&ED program is designed to encourage businesses to conduct scientific research and experimental development activities in Canada. There are 2 tax incentives available to corporations, individuals, trusts, and partnerships that conduct SR&ED work in Canada: 

• Claim a deduction against income
• Earn an Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Year-Round Funding Opportunities 

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) 

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is offered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in collaboration with 18 Employer Delivery Partners.  

Through SWPP, you could receive up to $5000 for every student you hire through the program and up to $7000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or that is from an under-represented group including:  

• Women in STEM 

• Persons with disabilities  

• Newcomers  

• Indigenous students  

• Visible minorities  

Is my organization eligible to apply? 

Employers who meet the following criteria are likely eligible for SWPP funding: 

• Registered Canadian business or non-profit organization 

• Not part of the federal, provincial, or municipal government 

• Ability to provide a meaningful paid work-integrated learning experience to a student with the capacity to pay the student consistently throughout the work term (some wage subsidies are reimbursed at the end of the term, while others have multiple installments) 

Funding availability 

SWPP funding is available year-round with applications for each co-op work term (Summer, Fall, Winter) being accepted before or at the beginning of the work term. Some Employer Delivery Partners accept applications retroactively.  

How do I apply to receive SWPP funding?  
  
Each SWPP delivery partner has their own online application process. Eligible employers can apply for funding from more than one provider to maximize their chances of approval, however funding from multiple SWPP providers cannot be combined to hire a student. SWPP funding can be combined with other forms of provincial, municipal, and private sources, as well as tax credits. 

SWPP Delivery Partners 

There are 18 SWPP Delivery Partners that support employers in different sectors listed below:

Questions About SWPP Funding? 

Reach out to us at coop@trentu.ca to learn more. 

Additional Funding  

Is none of the funding described here a match? Contact us at coop@trentu.ca to discuss your needs and other options that might be a fit for your organization.