Supports for Newcomer Integration CFP 2017/2018 Applicants Meeting May 31, 2017 9:00-10:30 AM The Immigrant Settlement and Language Programs unit (ISLP) unit currently has two Calls for Proposals (CFP) out the Language Training Program (LTP) Innovative Projects AND the Supports for Newcomer Integration. This applicants meeting is for the Supports for Newcomer Integration CFP. The applicants meeting for the LTP Innovative Projects was held on May 30, 2017. The grants fall under the mandate of the Ministry of Labour to help newcomers to be prepared to participate in the social and economic life of Alberta. Settlement programing by Alberta Labour is in a process of renewal, and 2017-2018 is a transition year. This CFP is for time-limited projects that address critical needs and complement existing services. It seeks to support newcomers through two streams workplace integration and community integration. Projects funded under this CFP must be complete on or before Dec 31, 2018. Due date for applications: 4:30 p.m. June 30, 2017. Questions 1. Are organizations able to submit multiple proposals and if so, would success of one impact the success of another? Yes, you can submit more than one proposal. The success of one proposal will not affect the other. Each proposal will be assessed on its own merit. Keep in mind your organizational capacity when putting together your proposals. 2. Would a project targeting those in the trades be appropriate? Yes, if it is not apprenticeship training, which exists elsewhere in the government. 3. Newcomers may not seek settlement services immediately can a project provide support to those who were once eligible but are not any longer? Yes, people who are not eligible for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funding are eligible. 1 P a g e
4. Some immigrants take longer to settle than others and the three-year settlement model is not always enough for them (e.g., some refugees who are living with significant pre-migration trauma). Could the grant support such immigrants if clear criteria for program admissions are made? Yes, if there is evidence of need. However, be reminded that in this year of transition, we are only looking at term-certain projects and not at long-term programming. 5. What would the anticipated start date be? Proposals will be reviewed by committees over the summer. The goal is to have agreements in place this fall. 6. Are Live-in Caregivers in transition to permanent residence, with open work permits, and foreign students, eligible beneficiaries? Those who are eligible for services under IRCC funded programming are not eligible beneficiaries in this grant. Temporary residents such as foreign students are not eligible under this grant. 7. How many groups/organizations do you think you can fund under this CFP? Decisions will not be based upon the number of organizations, but on the merit of each proposal. 8. Is there a cap on the projects under the stream of workplace integration? No, there is no cap. Organizations should consider their capacity. Cost will be assessed as to whether it is reasonable and cost effective for what it is offering. 9. If an agency is working in two locations, should we submit it as one or two proposals? This is your choice. 10. Can you speak more about organizational capacity particularly in smaller communities? Can you provide examples of those who have received funding in the past? This is the first time we have issued this CFP. One consideration is the size of a project versus the size of organization. For example, if your organization s budget is $1M/year and your proposal is for $2M, we would question your capacity to deliver. But if the proposal was for building on something that you already do, for a budget of $35,000 that would be considered more within the organization s capacity. 2 P a g e
11. Could a municipality partner with a learning council to offer staff and their families training in intercultural skills and communicating with language learners? Without seeing the specifics, yes that is an activity that would fit the call-for-proposals. 12. Projects must end at the end of December 2018; what happens after that? We are determining what settlement and integration supports will look like going forward. 13. Do we include specific beneficiaries? For example, do refugee claimants and naturalized citizens need to be distinguished as IRCC ineligible in our proposal? Describe your intended beneficiaries and how they meet the eligibility requirements listed in the CFP guidelines. If you have a more specific target group, identify them in your application. 14. How is ability to deliver evaluated? You will find a list of what will be considered under this area on Page 8 of the guidelines, Subsection D of Section VII Application Components. 15. How will the funds be dispersed? Most of the funds will be allocated at beginning of the project. There could be small amounts attached to interim and final reports. 16. Will there be one or multiple reports required? This depends on the scope of project. Usually there is an interim and final report. Some projects will have more. 17. Can you give an indication of total funding allocation for these grants? We will first take a look at all of the recommended proposals. 18. Will proposals be accepted in all-or-nothing fashion? It is unlikely we would provide only partial funding for a proposed project. Generally the proposal is accepted or not. 19. Any indication whether future CFP would have the same funding streams? That has not yet been determined. 3 P a g e
20. Is there any contribution or matching requirement? No. Other funding contributions are not required but we do encourage partnerships. 21. Would the cost of wages for newcomers while in training be an eligible cost? No. 22. How soon would an approved project know what the reporting /data collection requirements would be? It would be outlined in the agreement. 23. Would all residents in Lloydminster be eligible - even those who live on the Saskatchewan side? Yes, if they are residents of Lloydminster and meet the eligibility criteria. 24. Could a project be aimed at language? Yes. Keep in mind your project is meant to complement other services; so as long as you are not duplicating existing language programming and you are able to provide evidence of need, a project could be aimed at language. If it s an innovative approach to delivery of language training, it may fit under the LTP Innovative Language Projects CFP. 25. What if other services offered in the community are year-by-year and we do not know about the existence of comparable services when we apply? Make the argument when you apply with the information you have. 26. If funding is not approved until Fall, a start date would probably be January, is that right? The start date of your project is up to you. 27. Can you share the rubric for evaluation? The elements that will be considered are listed in the guidelines on pages 7 & 8 of the guidelines in Section VII Application Components. The weighting of each component is outlined on Page 7 in Section VI- Application Evaluation. 4 P a g e
28. Can a project include technical training, for example for engineers to prepare for certification? It sounds like this might be more skills training or integrated training. If it focused on communication skills, it would qualify. Again, you would need to describe how it complements and doesn t duplicate what is already available. 29. Does the proposal for training need to include the full curriculum or just a bulleted list? A bulleted list is fine. 30. Does the organization require 2 years experience or can the partner have it? The organization needs to have two years experience in their area of specialty, and if that does not include serving newcomers, then a partner organization that has the two years experience serving newcomers would cover the eligibility requirements. 31. Where might I find the financial requirements of AB Labour mentioned under selection criteria? A sample agreement has been added to the website for your information. Please refer to sections 3 & 6 and Schedule C of the agreement for information related to financial requirements. 32. Would paid internships be an allowable cost? No. Wages are not eligible costs. 33. There have been several mentions of eligibility being based on whether there are other services available. Can this be clarified based on different client types? You need to make the case that the beneficiary group you want to work with cannot access other comparable services. 34. Can you clarify the note on Page 3 that projects must include training? If a project relates to training, actual delivery of training must be part of the project, not just the development of curriculum or materials. 35. Are projects that include communication enhancement training for a specific group of people eligible? Yes. 36. Are supports for newcomers to start a small business eligible? No, that type of project is not part of this CFP. 5 P a g e
37. Are there overall priorities established for regional distribution, client groups, etc.? Priority setting conversations will occur during the review process. Decisions will be based on the proposals themselves as well as needs across the province. 38. Does everything need to be done by the end date of December 31, 2018? All project activity needs to be completed by December 31. Final reports due 60 days after the end of the project. If the project involves training, don t forget to leave time for any wrap up activity before Dec 31. 39. Can any Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) partner organization submit a proposal on behalf of the LIP? Yes. An organization would need to be the primary applicant. Include a list of all partners involved (this could be included as an appendix). 40. Do we have to declare a partnership with the settlement experience in the proposal? Yes, any partner needs to be identified and they need to provide an expression of their commitment at the time of application. 41. Are there any auditing standards for the agency applying? No. You need to provide your most recent financial statement. 6 P a g e