
Closed
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 9,600
Timeline
- Open Date : December 15, 2025
- Closing date : January 31, 2026
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
This program provides wage subsidies for non-profit, charitable, and social enterprise organizations hiring post-secondary students for summer jobs. It supports full-time summer placements, with higher funding available for eligible work-integrated learning positions.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 9,600 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : December 15, 2025
- Closing date : January 31, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Employment and Training
- Grant-making Foundations
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hiring post-secondary students for summer jobs
- Hiring students in co-op, internship, or other work-integrated learning placements
- Offering jobs that build transferable skills related to a student’s studies
Documents Needed
- Societies Act number or charity registration number
- Job description and location for each position
- Breakdown of tasks and time spent
- Written confirmation from a post-secondary institution for SKILL-WIL positions
- Student Information Form and Pay Declaration after hiring
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Registered charities
- Social enterprises
Who is not eligible
- Businesses that are not non-profit, charitable, or social enterprise organizations
- Employers already receiving other government employment funding for the same position
Eligible expenses
- Student wages for eligible summer work terms
- Wage support for eligible work-integrated learning placements
- Advance funding of up to 60% of approved support
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Positions already funded by another government employment program
- Jobs that are mainly manual labour, such as cleaning or groundskeeping
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
- Separate applications are required for positions in different counties
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after the intake period closes.
- Program staff assess the position, wage, employer track record, community impact, diversity commitment, and available funding.
- Decisions are normally sent in March by email.
- If approved, the employer must sign a funding agreement in LaMPSS.
- After the student is hired, the employer must submit required forms before payment is confirmed.
Additional information
- The program is administered by Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.
- Applications are normally reviewed in March after the intake closes.
- Approved employers are contacted by email and receive an agreement number.
- A separate application is required for positions in different counties.
Documents and links
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Student Summer Skills Incentive Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Student Summer Skills Incentive. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Student Summer Skills Incentive?
This program provides wage subsidies for non-profit, charitable, and social enterprise organizations hiring post-secondary students for summer jobs. It supports full-time summer placements, with higher funding available for eligible work-integrated learning positions.
How much funding can be received?
Student Summer Skills Incentive Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $9,600 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was January 31, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program?
To be eligible for the Student Summer Skills Incentive program, you must:
Registered non-profit, charity, or social enterprise
Summer student job of 8 to 14 weeks
No other government funding for the same position
What expenses are eligible under Student Summer Skills Incentive?
Hiring post-secondary students for summer jobs
Hiring students in co-op, internship, or other work-integrated learning placements
Offering jobs that build transferable skills related to a student’s studies
Who can I contact for more information about the Student Summer Skills Incentive?
You can contact Government of Nova Scotia by email at yepinfo@novascotia.ca or by phone at 902 424-6000.
Where is the Student Summer Skills Incentive available?
The Student Summer Skills Incentive program is available the province of Nova Scotia.