Get a subsidy of up to $15/hour, to cover up to 75% of wages, when you hire an employee in the forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors.

Eligibility criteria

The Employment Enhancement Program supports employers in forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors by providing funding for sustainable employment and training allowances. Eligibility criteria for organizations include being incorporated, having a business number, being in good standing with regulatory bodies, and having an office in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Be incorporated or a sole proprietor.
Have a Canada Revenue Agency business number.
Be in good standing with Registry of Companies and Deeds.
Have an office location/base in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Additional eligibility requirements can be reviewed in the Program Guidelines.
Adhere to all relevant Terms and Conditions of the Employment Enhancement Program.

Who is eligible

Employment Enhancement Program supports employers in forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors engaged in value-added secondary processing. Eligible types of companies include:

Incorporated organizations
Sole proprietors

Eligible expenses

There are eligible expenses for this grant. Employers can receive funding for creating sustainable, long-term employment or seasonal employment in the forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors, along with a training allowance for new employees. Eligible expenses include:

Wage subsidy of 75 percent, up to $15 per hour, for 10-28 weeks.
Training allowance up to $3,000 for the individual hired.

Eligible projects & activities

Eligible projects or activities for the Employment Enhancement Program include:

Creating sustainable, long-term employment in forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors
Providing seasonal employment opportunities

Evaluation & selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.

Applications are reviewed to ensure proposed activities meet program eligibility and budget availability
Recommendations are made to delegated authority for funding approval
Delegated authority reviews assessment and makes final decision based on information provided
Applicants are notified of approval or denial within 20 business days

How to apply

Step 1: Register as a Government Vendor and Receive LaMPSS Username
- All employers must be set up as a government vendor for payment processing.
- Register in the Labour Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS) to apply online.
- Complete the registration on the Employer Registration page.
- Receive a LaMPSS username and password via email.
Step 2: Submit Application
- Complete and submit an Online Application in LaMPSS.
- Review Guidelines and Requirements before starting the application.
- Read and adhere to the Terms and Conditions before submitting.
- Check application progress by logging into LaMPSS.
- Receive email notification of decision within 20 business days.

Documents and links

Employment Enhancement Program

Apply to this program

Employment Enhancement Program Summary:

The Employment Enhancement Program provides funding to employers in the forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing sectors to create sustainable employment and offer training allowances to new employees. Eligible organizations can receive a wage subsidy of up to $15 per hour for 10-28 weeks, along with a training allowance of up to $3,000.

Employment Enhancement Program Detailed Description:

The Employment Enhancement program aims to support employers in specific sectors by providing financial assistance for creating long-term or seasonal employment opportunities. This initiative targets industries such as forestry, aquaculture, agriculture, and fishing with a focus on value-added secondary processing.

To qualify for this program, organizations must be incorporated or a sole proprietor, possess a Canada Revenue Agency business number, be in good standing with the Registry of Companies and Deeds, and have an office location in Newfoundland and Labrador. Additional criteria and guidelines can be found in the Program Guidelines.

The program offers a wage subsidy of 75 percent, capped at $15 per hour, for a duration ranging from 10 to 28 weeks. Employers can also access a training allowance of up to $3,000 to support the onboarding and development of new hires. The application process involves registering as a government vendor, obtaining a LaMPSS username, and submitting an online application through the system.

Applications must be received at least 20 business days before the intended hiring date to allow for timely review and assessment. Priority may be given to applications that align with identified occupations and sectors, with a focus on equitable distribution of funding across regions with high unemployment rates. Incomplete applications may experience delays in processing.

The decision-making process involves initial assessment of the application, review of program eligibility and budget availability, and final approval or denial by the delegated authority within 20 business days of application receipt. Employers will be notified by email once a decision has been made on their funding request.

For further information or assistance, interested parties can contact the program administrators via phone at 1-800-563-6600, TTY at 1-866-729-4685, or email at EmploymentPrograms@gov.nl.ca.