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Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)
Workplace accessibility improvements supporting employment for persons with disabilities
Funding available
$ 50,000
Location
Canada
Overview
The Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) provides up to $50,000 per project to eligible employers across Canada for immediate workplace accessibility improvements that support hiring or continued employment of persons with disabilities. Funding can support construction, renovation or retrofit work, as well as accessible equipment and information and communication technologies that remove workplace barriers.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Digitize or modernize organizational tools
- Renovate or expand facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Construction, renovation or retrofit activities that address workplace accessibility barriers, including ramps, accessible doors, washrooms, lifts and accessible kitchens.
- Information and communication technologies specifically designed to eliminate accessibility barriers.
- Equipment specifically designed for persons with disabilities, including accessible safety equipment.
Documents Needed
- A Canada Revenue Agency document showing a valid business number, dated no more than 2 years before the application; this is not required for an organization already registered with Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS).
- A quote for each project activity from a certified or professional contractor, including the contractor and project details specified in the application requirements.
- At least one digital photo or image documenting the current condition for each applicable project activity: the project space for construction, renovation or retrofit; the items or devices to be purchased for an Information and Communication Technology project; or applicable website pages for a website accessibility project.
Sources and recorded changes
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations.
- For-profit organizations with up to 99 full-time equivalent employees.
- Indigenous organizations, including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities.
- Municipalities and territorial governments.
Who is not eligible
- Federal and provincial governments.
- Public schools at the primary or secondary level, including projects on publicly funded school property, except registered and/or licensed Early Learning and Child Care centres on public school property when the proposed activity is solely to address the needs of the childcare centre employees.
- Home-based childcare centres.
- Public health care facilities and public hospitals, including projects on their property.
- Crown corporations and entities controlled by a federal or provincial government, or on land owned by a federal or provincial government; residential housing organizations such as condo boards, co-op boards and other not-for-profit organizations that manage residential housing. Workplace projects for housing used as transitional, temporary or emergency shelter spaces could be considered eligible.
Eligible expenses
Eligible costs include professional contractor, architect and engineer fees, accessibility-related construction materials and labour, and tools or machinery required for the project. Eligible taxes exclude refundable amounts. Shipping can qualify when items are unavailable locally. Accessible software, equipment and website improvements must satisfy the linked ICT conditions. Website accessibility work is limited to 50% of quoted costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Individual accommodation needs, such as an ergonomic assessment for a specific employee, are not eligible project activities.
- Project activities cannot take place on Government of Canada or provincial government property, in public health care facilities or on public hospital property, or in a private home or dwelling. Commercially zoned properties used exclusively for commercial purposes, with no residential use, are excluded from the private-home restriction.
- Personalized equipment and hardware for an individual workstation are excluded. Adapted ICT hardware and workplace furniture must be usable in shared workplace spaces and transferable between users. Generic computers and software, personal assistive devices and web-accessibility overlays are excluded. A standard residential work-from-home setup is ineligible.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada.
Selection criteria
- Complete and eligible applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis as they are submitted, subject to available funding within the applicable regional allocation.
How to apply
- Create a GCOS profile if the organization does not already have a GCOS account; an application can be submitted as soon as the profile is created.
- Apply through the organization’s GCOS account and upload the supporting documents to the application.
- After submitting the application, finalize the GCOS account to become a fully registered user.
- If unable to apply through GCOS, email the relevant Service Canada regional office and clearly explain why the organization cannot apply through GCOS.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are screened and, if complete and eligible, approved on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding envelope is fully expended.
- The Department aims to sign funding agreements with recipients within a maximum of 60 business days from receipt of the application.
- Decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
- If mandatory information is missing, ESDC may request it before determining eligibility; applicants must respond within 5 business days of the request date.
Additional information
- Open Government publishes the organization name, business number, funding amount, project title, agreement number, agreement dates and project location.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) Program
What is the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)?
The Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) provides up to $50,000 per project to eligible employers across Canada for immediate workplace accessibility improvements that support hiring or continued employment of persons with disabilities. Funding can support construction, renovation or retrofit work, as well as accessible equipment and information and communication technologies that remove workplace barriers.
How much funding can be received?
Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) Funds up to $50,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) program?
To be eligible for the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) program, you must:
The applicant must be an eligible organization type, including a for-profit organization with up to 99 full-time equivalent employees.
The organization must demonstrate an immediate workplace accessibility need linked to employment for persons with disabilities.
The project must be ready to start within 6 months of application submission and completed within 12 months of the agreement start date.
What expenses are eligible under Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)?
Construction, renovation or retrofit activities that address workplace accessibility barriers, including ramps, accessible doors, washrooms, lifts and accessible kitchens.
Information and communication technologies specifically designed to eliminate accessibility barriers.
Equipment specifically designed for persons with disabilities, including accessible safety equipment.
Who can I contact for more information about the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Where is the Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) available?
The Enabling Accessibility Fund — Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG) program is available across Canada.