START Program

The START Program provides various funding options to employers, helping to alleviate costs associated with hiring and training new employees. The financial support is sensitive to the employer's needs, employment type, and employee skills.

• Wage incentives that help offset salary and benefit costs related to hiring.
• Case-by-case determination of wage incentive amounts based on employment type, wages, employee's skill, job search duration, and alignment with priority sectors.
• Funding to cover training costs for the new employee.
• Support for equipment and other direct costs associated with hiring the new employee.

Eligibility for the START program for employers is defined by specific criteria concerning the employer's location, size, and employment practices.

• The employer must be a small or medium-sized business, not-for-profit organization, or social enterprise.
• The organization must be located in Nova Scotia.
• The employees must live and work in Nova Scotia.
• The employer may have headquarters outside Nova Scotia but must maintain a physical location within the province.
• The employer must apply for the START Program before hiring a new employee.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for the START grant. Small or medium-sized employers, including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and social enterprises, located in Nova Scotia are eligible. Companies headquartered outside Nova Scotia but with a physical presence in the province and employees working there are also eligible.

• Large corporations
• Employers without a physical location in Nova Scotia
• Companies without employees working in the province

Eligible expenses

The START Program in Nova Scotia provides financial support to employers for hiring unemployed Nova Scotians. The eligible activities for this grant are focused on hiring incentives, training expenses, and equipment costs associated with employing local talent.

• Offering full-time, sustainable employment to eligible unemployed Nova Scotians.
• Providing short-term employment that facilitates the development of transferable skills for employees.
• Employing individuals in positions related to priority sectors or industries within Nova Scotia.
• Covering wage incentives to partially offset salary and benefit costs of new employees.
• Receiving funding for training new employees to enhance their skills and integration into the company.
• Securing funding for equipment and other direct costs necessary for the employment of new staff members.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to companies that are located in Nova Scotia, with operations within the province. The focus is to support local employment and skill development to boost the regional economy.

• Nova Scotia, Canada

There are evaluation and selection criteria for the START Program grant in Nova Scotia. Employers are assessed based on factors such as the type of employment offered, wages, employee skill level, duration of job search, support for priority sectors, and other relevant considerations.

• Type of employment offered
• Wages offered
• Employee’s skill level
• Duration of the employee's job search
• Support for priority sectors in Nova Scotia
• Other relevant factors

• Employers must apply for the START Program before hiring a new employee to be eligible for funding.
• The program may also offer assistance for jobs that are short-term if they help the employee develop skills or align with priority sectors.