Closed
Job Creation Partnerships (JCP)
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Nova Scotia, Canada
Support for Nova Scotia workers’ skills development
Grant and Funding
Overview
This program helps employment insurance (EI) recipients develop the skills they need to find full-time work.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Closing date : June 15, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
Activities funded
This employment program emphasizes collaboration between various organizations and LMDA eligible individuals to create beneficial work opportunities. The program facilitates projects that not only enhance participants' employability but also contribute positively to the community.
- Projects that provide meaningful work experience to participants.
- Activities that aim to improve participants' employment prospects.
- Community-beneficial projects structured to aid job seekers in gaining full-time employment.
- Initiatives with defined start and finish dates that are separate from a sponsor’s daily operations.
- Collaborative projects with public health, educational institutions, and local organizations.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 88,000
Develop customer service skills for unemployed individuals through a retail training program
$ 132,000
Support work experience placement in digital marketing for rural youth
$ 120,000
Provide work experience in renewable energy project management to unemployed graduates
$ 144,000
Provide marketing work experience in the cultural sector to recent graduates
$ 104,000
Train unemployed individuals in sustainable urban agriculture through a hands-on program
$ 160,000
Support IT skills development for unemployed youths through a coding bootcamp
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Job Creation Partnerships grant, companies and organizations must meet specific criteria related to their structure and project proposals.
- The applicant must be a business, organization, municipality, band/tribal council, public health or educational institution.
- Proposed activities must support the objective of Job Creation Partnerships.
- Activities must have clearly defined start and finish dates.
- Projects should not be part of the sponsor's day-to-day operations.
Who is eligible?
To apply for the Job Creation Partnerships program, you must be eligible under the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA). This means you must meet one of the following criteria:- Have a current Employment Insurance (EI) claim.- Have had an EI claim that ended within the last 60 months.- Received benefits under the EI emergency response benefit within the previous 60 months.- Have been employed with gross insurable earnings of $2000 or higher annually, in at least 5 of the last 10 years.Additionally, you need to have been attached to the labour force for at least 24 months. Applicants are evaluated for Labour Force Attachment (LFA) to determine if they have been fully participating in the labour market. For recent students, it's assessed whether they joined the labour force and had employment before applying for the program. To be considered attached to the labour force, you must:- Be actively seeking employment.- Be employed full-time.- Maintain part-time employment while actively seeking full-time employment.- Be self-employed. Applications must include an employment assessment and a Return to Work Action Plan developed with a case manager. This decision is required before Employment Nova Scotia can assess the application.Eligible expenses
The Job Creation Partnerships program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences to enhance participants' employment-related skills. Eligible projects or activities primarily aim at improving employment prospects for participants while benefiting the community.
- Projects providing hands-on work experiences relevant to the participant's field.
- Community-based initiatives that offer practical skills development opportunities.
- Collaborative ventures with businesses and organizations aimed at skill enhancement.
- Temporary positions that align with individual's Return to Work Action Plan.
- Assignments that develop employability skills contributing to long-term career opportunities.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is focused on projects within Nova Scotia as delivered by Employment Nova Scotia. Consequently, the geographic eligibility is limited to this region.
- Projects and organizations located within the province of Nova Scotia.
Selection criteria
There are evaluation and selection criteria for the Job Creation Partnerships grant in Nova Scotia:
- Applicants must be Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) eligible.
- Eligibility is assessed based on factors such as Employment Insurance (EI) claim history, labour force attachment, and employment status.
- Projects must provide meaningful work experience beneficial for both participants and the community.
- Proposed activities should have defined start and finish dates and not be part of a sponsor's day-to-day operations.
How to apply
1
Employment Assessment
- Visit a Nova Scotia Works Employment Services Centre in your local area.
- Speak with a case manager for employment assessment.
- Develop a Return to Work Action Plan with your case manager.
2
Case Manager's Decision
Wait for the case manager's decision on your suitability for the Job Creation Partnerships program.
3
Application Submission for Individuals
Once approved by your case manager, your application will be assessed by Employment Nova Scotia.
4
Application for Sponsors
- Register for the LaMPSS system by calling 1-877-223-0888 to obtain a registration package.
- Download and review the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
- Submit your application online using the LaMPSS system.
5
Approval
Await approval from Employment Nova Scotia before beginning activities with the project sponsor.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The program is designed not only to benefit participants but also to have a positive impact on the community through project activities.
- Job Creation Partnerships do not provide direct financial assistance to participants; instead, they offer work experience opportunities.
- The program emphasizes the importance of the Labor Force Attachment (LFA) in the application assessment, which evaluates whether the individual has an active attachment to the labor market.
Contacts
1-877-223-0888
