Funding Resources

Plenty of employer support programs and funding options are available to help you Hire UWindsor! Contact us to help you find a program that fits your recruiting needs.

Co-operative Education & Internships

With a combination of grants and subsidies, hiring a co-op student is a cost-effective element of your recruitment strategy.

Here are some of the current programs available to organizations hiring co-op students:

Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit

Who is eligible:
Any Ontario employer looking to hire a student from a post-secondary co-operative education program.

How much is subsidized and what is the criteria?

Depending on the size of your organization it varies between 25% (for large corporations) and 30% for small businesses, both up to $3,000. Each student you hire is eligible for the tax credit with no limit/cap. The guidelines follow a minimum of 10 weeks and a maximum of 4 months. However, you can claim each student over each work term, so if you have a student on an eight-month placement, you can claim up to $6,000 for each student you hire. Find all of the details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/co-operative-education-tax-credit

How do I get the funding?

We provide our employers with proof of the hire and it is used each tax season and can be claimed on Schedule 550 of the T2 corporation income tax return. Unincorporated businesses can claim the tax credit on their personal tax return using Form ON479.

Student Work Placement Program

Funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Student Work Placement Program supports partnerships between industry and post-secondary institutions to create quality work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students so they can develop work-ready skills required to secure meaningful employment upon graduation.

Amount available:

Up to 75% (up to $7,500) for all students including students from underrepresented groups. For example, Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Indigenous students, visibile minorities, persons with disabilities, and first year students. Funding is available for 8 to 16 weeks (although the minimim required duration for co-op eligibility is a 12-week term).

Please note:

Funding can be "stacked" (ie combined) with the Ontario Co-op Tax Credit, however wages for this position must not be funded by another federally funded program and cannot exceed 100% of the student wages. Employers can receive funding for more than one student per term - one application per student must be submitted.

Employers can apply for an be approved for consecutive terms provided they submit one application for each student every term

ESDC works with Employer Delivery Partners which are a group of recognized associations and organizations that represent the interests of employers in industries. They work with business and post-secondary education institutions to:

Provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements
Create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEP's to recruit students for these placements

Each delivery partner is running the program a little differently, so check for additional information on the following pages. The program is being delivered through various industry partners.

Mitacs - Business Strategy Internship

Mitacs powers research and development by connecting industry with the best post-secondary institutions to solve business challenges — in Canada and internationally. For 20 years, Mitacs has funded cutting-edge research, created job opportunities for graduate students and helped companies reach their business goals, achieving results that have bolstered the Canadian economy.

Canadian organizations are being challenged as never before. Get help from outstanding students with your innovation activities starting at a four-month $10,000 or $15,000 internship. Your contribution is 50%. Additional information available here.

To learn more about how the Mitacs programs can work for you, contact:

Katie Facecchia, Mitacs Director Business Development
kfacecchia@mitacs.ca
519-560-1582

If your company or community organization engages in research, product development or entrepreneurship, there are many ways that you can hire a UWindsor student via internships, co-ops, and part-time positions. The University's Office of Research and Innovation Services can support your company in finding the right funding for you to hire UWindsor!

We encourage companies to get started by learning about what UWindsor has to offer through Research Partnerships at the Office of Research and Innovation Services. Our expert staff can help you to the right funding for your organization. The programs below are just a few of the opportunities available to help you attract the next generation of talent.

Student & Graduate Opportunities

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Career Focus

Career Focus provides funding to organizations for the creation of agricultural internships that provide career-related work experiences for recent graduates.

Visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to learn more about the Career Focus program.

Apprenticeship Tax Credit

The apprenticeship training tax credit is a refundable tax credit. It is available to employers who hire and train apprentices in certain skilled trades in apprenticeship programs that commenced on or before November 14, 2017.
For apprenticeship programs that commenced on or after April 24, 2015 and before November 15, 2017, eligible expenditures incurred during the first 36 months of the apprenticeship program qualify for the purposes of the credit.
For apprenticeship programs that commenced before April 24, 2015, eligible expenditures incurred after March 26, 2009, and during the first 48 months of the apprenticeship program, qualify for purposes of the tax credit.

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Finance to learn more about the Apprenticeship Tax Credit.

Canada Ontario Job Grant

The Job Grant will provide direct financial support to individual employers who wish to purchase training for their employees. It will be available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees, and will:

Provide up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs.
Require employers to contribute one-third of the total costs. There will be additional flexibility for small businesses to provide an in-kind contribution towards their share of the costs.
Require training to be delivered by an eligible, third-party trainer.

If you're an employer with a particular skills demand, the Canada-Ontario Job Grant might be right for you. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development to learn more about the job grant program.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)

CSJ is an initiative of the Summer Work Experience program. It provides wage subsidies to employers to create employment for secondary and post-secondary students. Again this year, Canada Summer Jobs welcomes applications from small businesses, not-for-profit employers, public sector and faith-based organizations that provide quality summer jobs for students. CSJ provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about the Summer Work Experience program.

Digital Skills Youth Internship Program

Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) connects underemployed recent post-secondary graduates with small businesses and not-for-profit organizations where they can gain meaningful work experience to help them transition to career-oriented employment. Program participants will be able to use the skills acquired during their studies and apply them in a professional setting. Moreover, they will be able to upskill if required to better meet the demands of the labour market. The program will be administered by delivery organizations. A delivery organization is an independent third party responsible for the delivery of DS4Y who will partner with employers where interns will carry out their internships. Delivery Organizations will ensure that interns gain valuable work experience and have access to training.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about the Digital Skills Youth Internship program.

Employment and Social Development Canada Career Focus

Career Focus provides funding for employers and organizations to design and deliver a range of activities that enable youth make more informed career decisions and develop their skills.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about Employment and Social Development Canada Career Focus funding.

Environmental Youth Corps

Our program gives eligible employers who work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or natural resources up to 50% of a candidate’s salary (up to $15,000) for new full-time environmental jobs. Employers may use this program to fund multiple new positions.

Visit Eco Canada to learn more about the program.

Export Market Access

Export Market Access (EMA) is a $5 million initiative, jointly sponsored by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC). It is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs) increase their access to global markets. Expenses incurred by companies undertaking activities in the following four areas may be eligible for funding:

Direct Contacts: participation in international trade shows, fairs, exhibitions, and incoming and outgoing trade missions, supported by a recognized third party such as governments or trade related organizations.
Marketing Tools: development of electronic media, promotional materials, and generic branding material.
Market Research: to enable more precise international market targeting.
Foreign Bidding Projects: intended for providers of professional services (engineering, consulting, constructions, etc.) bidding on foreign projects against foreign competition.

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to learn more about the program.

First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program

Projects under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program allow youth to learn about career options and earn an income that may contribute to university or college education.
Successful proposals:

include plans to offer wage subsidies to private sector and non-profit employers so they may hire eligible First Nations and Inuit youth
help First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students obtain summer employment and prepare for entry into the labour market
enable First Nations and Inuit youth to earn wages

The proposals will support work experience opportunities for First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students, between May 1st and the beginning of the student’s fall academic term. Proposals are accepted for each fiscal year.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about the program.

Jobs and Prosperity Fund

Businesses, business associations and entrepreneurs can get funding for projects to enhance productivity and help them compete in the global marketplace.

New Economy Fund - Funding that can help you build research and development capacity, improve productivity, boost competitiveness and gain access to global markets.
Food and Beverage Growth Fund - Funding for strategic investments in the food and beverage processing, and bioproduct sectors.
Forestry Growth Fund - Funding for manufacturers and processors of wood products across Ontario.

Visit the Ontario website to learn more about funding for projects.

Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

The Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) is a refundable tax credit based on eligible Ontario labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution expenses claimed by a qualifying corporation with respect to interactive digital media products.

Visit the Ontario Media Development Corporation to learn more about the refundable tax credit.

Science and Technology Internship Program

Green jobs are the future in a world that is increasingly valuing sustainable practices as part of the transition to a low-carbon economy. To help young Canadians get started in a green career, Natural Resources Canada is investing more that $16 million to create 1,200 jobs through our Green Jobs - Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP).

Visit Natural Resources Canada to learn more about the program.

Science Horizons Youth Internships Program

Science Horizons supports green jobs for youth by providing wage subsidies to eligible employers to hire interns in environmental and clean technology sectors. Interns must be recent college or university graduates eligible to work in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about the internships program.

SMART Program for Advance Technologies for Global Growth

Through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Growth and Productivity (IBGP) initiative, the SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth (ATGG) program is designed to assist Southern Ontario manufacturers in adopting new technologies that have the potential to improve productivity and increase competitiveness in the global economy. Advanced Technology Adaptation/ Adoption Projects that will focus on improving productivity through the adaptation or adoption of new or upgraded advanced technologies, materials or processes, create jobs and increase global competitiveness. Advanced technology projects will be eligible for funding of 35% of eligible costs to a maximum non-repayable contribution of $100,000.

Visit the SMART Program to learn more about the program.

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund gives money to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario. The fund supports projects that:

create jobs
encourage innovation, collaboration and cluster development
attract private sector investment

Visit the Ontario website to learn more about the funding program.

The Skills Link

The Skills Link program helps youth overcome barriers to employment, develop a broad range of skills and knowledge in order to participate in the current and future labour market and to promote education and skills as being key to labour market participation. These barriers include, but are not limited to, challenges faced by recent immigrant youth, youth with disabilities, single parent youth, youth who have not completed high school, Indigenous youth, and youth living in rural or remote areas.

Visit the Government of Canada to learn more about the program.

Research & Development and Entrepreneurship

If your company or community organization engages in research, product development or entrepreneurship, there are many ways that you can hire a UWindsor student via internships, co-ops, and part time positions. The University’s Office of Research and Innovation Services can support your company in finding the right funding for you to hire UWindsor!

We encourage companies to get started by learning about what UWindsor has to offer through Research Partnerships at the Office of Research and Innovation Services. Our expert staff can help connect you to the right funding for your organization. The programs below are just a few of the opportunities available to help you attract the next generation of talent to your organization.

Mitacs

Mitacs powers research & development by connecting industry with the best post-secondary institutions to solve business challenges — in Canada and internationally. For 20 years, Mitacs has funded cutting-edge research, created job opportunities for graduate students and helped companies reach their business goals, achieving results that have bolstered the Canadian economy.

Programs

Accelerate

Solve your research challenges with academic expertise, leveraged funding, and one-to-one support from Mitacs. Internships start at four months and can scale up as much as you need. For additional information, click here.

Entrepreneur International

Is global growth in your future? Mitacs Entrepreneur International can help. We assist with travel costs — up to $5,000 — to help you explore new business opportunities abroad. Mitacs Entrepreneur International offers travel grants to Canadian start-ups housed in university-linked incubators. The grant enables start-ups to connect with international incubators allowing you to explore new business development opportunities in global markets.

Business Strategy Internship

To learn more about how Mitacs programs can work for you, contact:

Katie Facecchia, Mitacs Director Business Development
kfacecchia@mitacs.ca
519-560-1582

Iman Sarraf, Business Development Specialist, Windsor
isarraf@mitacs.ca
226-724-2408

Ontario Centres for Innovation

OCI’s mission is to accelerate innovation through game-changing research leading to successful commercialization and vibrant collaboration between industry and academia, launching the next generation of products and jobs.

Programs

Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP)

This program supports the collaboration between Academia and Industry to solve an industry-based problem and drive the commercialization of Intellectual Property [IP]. The institution will leverage the unique skills and specialized infrastructure that is instrumental to streamline internal innovations and commercialization needs. Resulting in targeted training of individuals and direct engagement with Industry to work on commercially viable solutions.

For more information about OCI programs, visit their website, or contact:

Andreas Waller, Business Development and Commercialization Manger for the Windsor-Essex Region
awaller@oc-innovation.ca
519.996.5100

Other Research Partnership funding opportunities

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) offer a range of programs that can support partnerships between the University of Windsor and your company or organization. Find out about UWindsor Research Partnerships and learn how leveraged funding can bring talent into your organization and help you grow.

Additional Resources

Workforce WindsorEssex WEsearch Tool for Employers and Job-Seekers

Help navigating the various supports available to employers in Windsor-Essex, including grants, loans and wage subsidies.

Visit Workforce Windsor Essex to learn more about the tool.

Employment Ontario

Employment Ontario can help you get training, build skills or find a job. We connect people looking for work with employers looking for workers. Employment Ontario offers many provincial programs that may be of assistance to you.

Visit the Ontario website to learn more about employment support.

Ontario Business Program Guide

This online directory of provincial tax incentives, tax credits and government support programs for business has many additional programs that may be of assistance to you.

Visit the Ontario Business Programs Guide to use the interactive search tool.