Youth Job Strategy Questions & Answers
Table of Contents Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects (SCEP)... 3 Program Information... 3 Program Eligibility... 3 Application Process... 4 Program Funding and Resources... 5 Project Implementation... 7 Youth Skills Connections (YSC)...10 Program Information... 10 Program Eligibility... 12 Application Process... 15 Program Funding and Resources... 16 Project Implementation... 18 Industry Stream Specific Q&A... 19 Community Stream Specific Q&A... 19 High School Entrepreneurship Outreach...21 Application Process... 21 Program Funding and Resources... 21 Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [2 Page
Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects (SCEP) Program Information Q1. How is this program distinguished from the other Youth programs? A. The Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects (SCEP) fills the gap for youth interested in entrepreneurship employment but who are excluded from participating in other self-employment programs (e.g. Ontario Self-Employment Benefit) or require additional support outside the programs offered by the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) (e.g. Starter Company, Youth Business Accelerator Program). Program Eligibility Q2. How can we determine if our community is considered High-Needs? A. High-needs communities have high rates of youth unemployment, unique requirements for improving youth employability, limited community resources, and/or limited opportunities to attract industry and other partners. Examples of high-needs communities may include: Aboriginal communities. Northern Ontario communities (includes the census Districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming). Small communities (municipalities with a population less than 20,000 or population density of less than 100 persons per square kilometre). Urban neighbourhoods with a high concentration of a vulnerable population. Q3. We work with a wide range of demographic groups. What populations are considered Vulnerable? A. Vulnerable populations, for the purpose of SCEP, include demographic groups that face challenges to participating in employment. These groups include: Aboriginal youth Newcomer youth Racialized youth Youth in care Youth in, or at risk of, conflict with the law. Youth in poverty or from low income families. Youth with disabilities and special needs. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [3 Page
Application Process Q4. We would like to fund an existing project within our community. Can we apply for SCEP funding? A. Yes. Existing projects may be funded as long as the programming is incremental to the existing project (i.e. it expands current programming, reaches new demographics/communities, increases youth participation etc.). Q5. Our organization was just incorporated last year. Can we apply for SCEP funding? A. No. You must be registered as a not-for-profit corporation for a minimum of three years at the time of application. Q6. Will youth, currently receiving Ontario Works Support, Ontario Disability Support or Employment Insurance, have their benefits reduced if they participate in SCEP? A. Regulations governing participation in a training program and for entrepreneurial activities (revenue generation) will vary depending on the training program and/or entrepreneurial activity. Youth who plan to participate in SCEP should contact their Case Worker (Ontario Works), Disability Support Program Worker (Ontario Disability Support program) or their local Service Canada Centre (Employment Insurance) to determine if their benefits would be affected. Q7. Can an organization send a summary of the project for review prior to an official proposal submission? A. No. The ministry will only respond to questions during scheduled information sessions. Q8. Can an organization implement a project in multiple communities/locations? A. Yes. Q9. Can our organization apply to deliver multiple projects? A. Yes. Q10. We will be proposing a project that involves multiple locations across Ontario. Do we need to submit a proposal for each location? A. No. You would submit one proposal that covers off all locations. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [4 Page
Q11. Can an organization submit an application in French? A. Yes. SCEP proposals may be submitted and projects may be delivered in French. Q12. Can youth work together to start a business? A. Yes. However, the micro-financing grant is available per business and not per youth. Q13. Can the business be a social enterprise? A. Yes, as long as the business generates revenue and provides a job for its creator. Q14. Is the anticipated target of 400 youth trained and 180 starting businesses for the entire program? A. This target is for the entire program. Program Funding and Resources Q15. Our organization cannot afford a 10% contribution in cash. Is there an option? The guidelines state that applicants must provide a minimum cash contribution equal to 10% of the total project cost. Your cash contribution may come from your organization and any number of partnering organizations. The ministry reserves the right to extend funding to projects that do not meet the minimum cash contribution in exceptional circumstances with sufficient rationale. Q16. Can the 10% cash contribution required be accumulated from revenues generated through the project? A. No. There is a risk that you will not generate enough revenue to meet the minimum cash contribution. Q17. Can we receive funding from other provincial ministries to fund our project? A. No. Other provincial funding cannot be deemed as a contribution for your SCEP project. However, you are encouraged to explore funding (cash and in-kind) opportunities through other sources such as the federal government, funding foundations, for-profit and not-forprofit organizations. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [5 Page
Q18. Why would we explore in-kind partnerships with other organizations? A. Building partnerships with other organizations may help you gain access to skills and capabilities that could increase your capacity to deliver your project and achieve strong outcomes. This could include access to human resources development and training, marketing, finance, facilities, technology, administration, strategy and leadership development. Q19. Since the ministry will be funding up to 90% of eligible cash expenses, and our organization will be funding the remaining 10%, why do we need to list our in-kind expenses? A. The ministry s project evaluation process includes assessing the project s overall value for money. Therefore, organizations are encouraged to seek in-kind revenue through partnerships with other for- and not-for-profit community organizations. Q20. We plan to partner with other organizations to deliver our project. Can we claim our partners facility and resource costs as an expense? A. Yes. Facility costs can be claimed as an in-kind expense providing you can demonstrate that the space would otherwise have been rented out to others. Other resource expenses may be claimed as in-kind expenses (excluding traditional volunteer roles) providing the resources are directly related to your project. Q21. Can we partner with Small Business Enterprise Centres and Regional Innovation Centres? A. Yes. The ministry encourages partnerships with members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs. Q22. Can we pay our mentors or show this as an in-kind revenue and expense? A. No. Mentorship is traditionally a community volunteer role. Reimbursable expenses include: costs for specialized services related to the mentorship component (for example interpreters), mileage costs incurred by mentors, and small mentor thank-you gifts. Q23. Is there a maximum funding per participant ratio? A. No. While the ministry will evaluate projects based upon quality and value for money, there is no targeted amount per participant. The amount of funding per participant will vary depending on the type and scope of project. Q24: How will the funding be disbursed? A. Funding will be outlined in the funding agreement with successful applicants. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [6 Page
Project Implementation Q25. Is there any priority given to projects that are led and operated by youth? A. No. Priority will not be given to projects led and delivered by youth. Q26. Can we offer multiple intake periods and programming? A. Yes. You are encouraged to consider flexible program scheduling and multiple intakes in order to remove barriers for participation. Q27. Is there a minimum number of youth that must participate in a SCEP project? A. No. The ministry will consider a wide variety of criteria when evaluating an application including value for money. Q28. Can we deliver our project using a Youth Incubator model? A. Yes. The project funds associated with the youth incubator must be exclusively for SCEP participants during the project. Q29. Can a youth with a part- or full-time job participate in a SCEP project? A. Yes. You are encouraged to consider flexible program scheduling and multiple intakes to remove barriers for participation. Q30. Can youth enrolled full-time in high school or post-secondary education participate in a SCEP project? A. No. The ministry offers other programs, such as Summer Company, for full-time students. Q31. Can a youth with a part- or full-time business participate in a SCEP project? A. Yes. You must demonstrate how participation in SCEP will grow the youth s business i.e. hiring one or more employees. Q32. Can a youth participate in SCEP if they have previously participated in another Ontario employment program (i.e. Self-Employment Benefit program)? A. Yes. However, they must not participate in both programs simultaneously. Youth that have started a business as a result of another employment program must demonstrate that participation in SCEP will result in business expansion i.e. hiring one or more employees. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [7 Page
Q33. Upon the successful completion of SCEP, do youth need to start a full-time business or can it be a part-time business? A. Youth can start a full- or part-time business depending on their individual situations and needs. Q34. Can businesses started as a result of SCEP sell their products and/or services globally? A. Yes. Businesses must be Ontario-based and participants are required to be residents of Ontario. Q35. Can a youth start a business with a social enterprise model? A. Yes. The ministry encourages youth to consider a wide variety of business models including Social Enterprise. Q36. Can youth who are not facing multiple barriers to employment participate? A. No. There are other programs for youth who are not facing multiple barriers to employment i.e. Starter Company. Please visit the Youth Jobs website: www.ontario.ca/youthjobs Q37. What are the key performance targets? A. Projects will be expected to set performance targets for the following key outcomes: Number of youth participating. Number of youth commencing self-employment on a part-time basis. Number of youth commencing self-employment on a full-time basis. Number of revenue-generating small businesses started. Number of jobs created. Additional performance indicators will be tracked on a project basis. Q38. Would self-employment be considered a job created? A. Yes. Q39. We plan to include the micro-financing as a component of our project. What forms of business partnership are permitted and who is responsible to administer the micro-financing granting process? A. Businesses may be sole proprietorship, partnerships or corporations. In the case of partnerships and corporations, it is very important that the delivery organization ensures Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [8 Page
that the youth will indeed be responsible for the ongoing management of the firm and is not being used as a front for a non-youth entrepreneur to obtain funding or other such scheme or potentially exploitive venture. Your organization would be responsible for the administration, review, and approval and monitoring of all grants for youth participants. Q40. We plan to include the micro-financing as a component of our project. Can we also include a financing component funded by another project partner? A. Yes, providing it does not come from another Government of Ontario organization resulting in the stacking of provincial funds. Q41. What is experiential training? A. Experiential training is hands-on and practical for the youth. For business start-up, this would include developing an actual business plan and making decisions about the proposed idea in a real, rather than theoretical, context. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [9 Page
Youth Skills Connections (YSC) Industry and Community Streams Program Information Q1. What is the difference between YSC s Industry and Community streams? A. The Industry Stream is designed for industry-led projects that address an existing skillsgap. Certain sectors face skills shortages that have a negative impact on competitiveness. In order to ensure that industry training needs are met while improving the employability of Ontario youth, this funding stream is designed to bring together the relevant stakeholders using collaborative partnerships to better align skills-training with industry needs. The Community Stream, on the other hand, addresses the unique requirements of youth facing multiple barriers to employment. This fund will help organizations develop training programs that improve the capacity and capability of vulnerable youth to find jobs while also identifying industry partnerships that will provide long-term employment opportunities. Q2. How much of the $25 million in Youth Skills Connections funding will be distributed towards each stream? A. There is no set distribution of the $25 million. How the funding is distributed between each stream will depend upon the number and quality of proposals received. Q3. Will the Ministry focus on specific industries in distributing funding to YSC projects? A. No. However, the Ontario government reserves the right to select YSC projects based on sectors of strategic importance to the economy, and based on government priorities. Q4. Why is industry participation needed and is it mandatory? A. Industry participation for the Industry Stream is mandatory and crucial for ensuring that industry training needs are met, in turn, helping bridge skills-gaps and improving the competitiveness of key Ontario industries. Industry participation aids in defining the gap, ensuring that training program development is relevant to the needs of Youth and improves their long-term employability. Industry engagement is also necessary to secure job placements and hiring commitments for youth participants either during or after completion of project training. Industry participation for the Community Stream is needed, at minimum, to ensure training interventions meet industry needs, are relevant to the needs of Youth, and improve their long-term employability. Industry engagement is also necessary to secure Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [10 Page
job placements and hiring commitments for youth participants either during or after completion of project training. Q5. How does the YSC program define Youth? A. The Industry Stream will fund projects targeting Youth between the ages of 15-29. Q6. Will YSC fund research to gather evidence, surveys or assessments? A. No. It is expected that applicants will base their projects on pre-existing data or information, or have information based on research they have completed in the past. Q7. Can proposals focus on apprenticeships? A. Since the program has a large focus on experiential or on-the job learning, apprenticeship-based projects are encouraged. However, projects that are apprenticeship-based should not duplicate what is currently offered by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. Q8. Will YSC favour projects with a regional approach or with a focus on multiple sites? A. The Ministry wants the greatest impact for its investment and encourages projects that have a province-wide or multiple community focus but also welcomes projects that focus on smaller communities. Q9. Must proposals be based on a new idea or can the proposals be an expansion/replication of an existing project? We encourage the expansion or replication of successful existing or pilot projects. However, all projects must justify the benefits of expanding or replicating and should be distinct/discrete projects that meet the criteria listed in the guidelines. Q10. Where can one direct their questions regarding the development of a YSC proposal? A. All future questions will be answered at the feedback session that will be held with each applicant that submits an Expression of Interest. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [11 Page
Program Eligibility Q11. Who is eligible to apply for YSC funding? A. The organizations listed below may apply under this program. At the sole discretion of the Ministry, other similar organizations may also apply. Eligible applicants must be legal entities registered in Ontario or federally. Eligible organizations: Not-for-profit organizations with a minimum of 3 years of operations as of the application date, and a presence in Ontario (must provide proof of their status). Associations (professional, sector/industry, labour, community). Publicly funded post-secondary institutions. Private career colleges. Private career colleges participating in a Youth Skills Connections funded project must be in compliance with the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 (PCCA) and cannot collect fees from youth participants for the training interventions provided. Boards of education Municipalities Unions The applicant must be one of the primary project partners and will be specifically accountable for the delivery of the project and responsible for signing the agreement, receiving and managing the funds, ensuring the overall coordination of project partners and activities, and for communicating with the Ministry on behalf of the project. Individual employers cannot be an applicant. An applicant may, however, partner with one or more for-profit organizations and employers. Q12. What can I submit as proof of my organization s not-for-profit status? A. One should submit an Incorporation Document from Corporations Canada or the Province of Ontario, or a Certificate of Status that can be obtained online. Applicants can use alternative sources for proving this status, if available. Q13. Can youth apply for funding? A. Youth cannot apply directly for funding. Each approved project will determine how Youth can apply for the relevant training and job placements provided. The list of successful projects, with relevant contact information, will be displayed on the Youth Job Strategy web page. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [12 Page
Q14. Can cooperatives apply for the YSC program? A. A cooperative can be an applicant as long as it has a not-for-profit status. A for-profit cooperative cannot be an applicant cut can partner with a not-for-profit organization. Q15. Can work permit holders participate in a YSC funded project? A. No. Only youth that are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to participate in the YSC projects. Q16. Will youth currently receiving Ontario Works support, Ontario Disability Support or Employment Insurance have their benefits reduced if they participate in a YSC funded program? A. Regulations governing participation in a training program will vary depending on the training program. Youth who plan to participate in an Industry Stream funded program should contact their Case Worker (Ontario Works), Disability Support Program Worker (Ontario Disability Support program) or their local Service Canada Centre (Employment Insurance) to determine if and how their benefits may be affected. Q17. Does YSC stipulate the type, length or format for a training intervention? A. YSC does not stipulate the type or format for a training intervention, as the type and method of training will depend on the needs of targeted youth and industry. Depending on the needs of youth participants or industry, training could be part-time or full-time or could be in-class or on-the-job. However, YSC will give preference to projects that have an on the job component to their training interventions. Life-skills or pre-employment training can be included but should not be the main focus for the project. Technical skills training that will lead, in the short-term, to the improved employability of youth must also be included in the proposal While there is a maximum duration of 32 weeks for a training intervention, there is no minimum duration. The duration of the training intervention will depend upon the needs of the target youth group and/or of the needs of industry. Q18. How can applicants demonstrate the hiring intentions/commitments of employers? A. Employer hiring intentions or commitments can be demonstrated through a partnership letter from an employer or through employer involvement in the provision of on-the-job training for the project. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [13 Page
Q19. How does YSC define the partnerships it requires for eligible projects? A. The partnerships must include two or more parties and may include one or more of the following: Not-for-profit organizations Associations (professional, sector/industry, labour, community) Publicly funded post-secondary institutions. Private career colleges. Private career colleges participating in a Youth Skills Connections funded project must be in compliance with the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 (PCCA). Boards of education Municipalities Unions For-profit organizations Industry stream projects must include an industry partner (employer, association) that is directly involved in project development. There is also no limit to the number of partners a project can have as this will depend on the context of the project, its deliverables and the desired impact of the project. For example, a project can include several not-for-profits, several employers and multiple post-secondary educational institutes if it is beneficial to the project s goals. Different departments within a single organization could form a partnership but not if it is one legal entity. A group of not-for-profits could form a partnership. In that case all projects must have one lead applicant and will still need to have an industry partner. Q20. Does an industry partner need to be an established entity prior to submitting a proposal? What type of organizations will qualify as an industry partner? A. All applicants must be operational for at least three years. There is no stipulation on how long partners or employers must be operational in order to be a part of a project. A project s industry partners may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: Industry associations Individual employers (multiple) Business Improvement Associations Not-for-profit organization (which could also be in the role of employer) Sector Councils Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [14 Page
Q21. Can one propose a project where all the jobs are not in the same industry sector? A. Yes, provided there is evidence to support the skills-gaps for each sector. Application Process Q22. Do the Industry and Community Streams have the same application process and deadlines? A. Yes. Q23. Why an Expression of Interest and why is it mandatory? A. The Expression of Interest is the first step in the funding application process. It is a brief overview of the proposed project and how the applicant will implement and carry it out successfully with the resources available. It should clearly identify the youth target audience, implementation activities, partners, intended measures of success and cost of implementation. The submission of the Expression of Interest allows Ministry staff to provide feedback to applicants that they may find useful in the development of their full proposals. An applicant cannot submit a full proposal unless an Expression of Interest is submitted in the required format within the stated deadline. Q24. How detailed must the Expression of Interest be? Are 500 words sufficient? Can an applicant submit more than one Expression of Interest? A. The Expression of Interest needs to outline what a project intends to accomplish, including the partnerships it will develop and the funding it will require. More detail, including partner commitments, will be needed to complete the full proposal. Applicants can submit more than one Expression of Interest to either the Industry or Community Streams for distinct, separate projects. However, each project will be assessed based on its own merit and the approval will depend on the quality of the proposals and the organizational capacity of the applicant. Q25. Do the Expressions of Interest and full proposals need to be mailed and emailed to the Ministry? Do hard copies need to be received by the Ministry before the stated deadlines? A. Yes. All Expressions of Interest and full proposals must be emailed and mailed to the Ministry using the contact information provided on the application templates. Hard copies can be post-marked by the deadline. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [15 Page
Q26. How soon will applicants receive feedback on their Expressions of Interest? Will all applicants who submit an Expression of Interest be allowed to submit a full proposal? A. We intend to provide applicants with feedback within five business days of submission. However, applicants that submit their Expression of Interest earlier may get their feedback at an earlier date. All eligible applicants that submit an Expression of Interest may submit a full proposal. Q27. If an applicant is unsure of which stream their project should be directed towards should they submit to both streams? A. If an applicant is unsure they should submit their project to one of the streams and the Ministry will advise if it feels the project is better suited to the other stream. Q28. Is there only one opportunity to apply for an YSC grant? A. YSC is a two-year program with a total of $25M in funding available. Projects approved in the first round of funding may require the commitment of all available funding. We encourage applications even if the project would start later in 2014. There may be a second Call for Proposals in 2014 (exact date TBC). Applicants that are unsuccessful, or unable to apply in the first round, may apply for funding in the second round, should it be offered. Program Funding and Resources Q29. Will a proposal be guaranteed funding if it meets all of the criteria? How many projects will be approved for funding? A. Each proposal will be evaluated separately and assessed on its own merits against the identified criteria. YSC is a discretionary and non-entitlement program and there is no guarantee that the applicant will be awarded funding. The Province, in its sole and absolute discretion, will determine whether to provide funding; the amount of any funding; and the purpose for which the funding will be used. By submitting a proposal, the applicant acknowledges that the Ministry is under no obligation to approve the project or provide any funding. Note that there is a set amount of funding available for each year of this two year funding program. There is no predetermined number of projects that will be funded. The number of projects funded will be determined by the size of the fund and the quality of the submissions. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [16 Page
Q30. How will YSC funding be disbursed? When will successful applicants receive their funding? A. An initial disbursement will be made on signing of a funding agreement and after meeting all pre-disbursement conditions. Funds will be disbursed in multiple installments. The installments will be stated in a schedule to the legal agreement with the Ministry. Recipients will be required to provide reports on the expenditure of the initial payment(s), along with a satisfactory report on partner contributions and activities to date, after which they may request further payments. Final reports that document performance measures, expenditure of all eligible costs, and satisfactory results regarding partner contributions and activities, per the funding agreement will be required The ministry will have the ability to recover any funding disbursed that is not spent according to eligible costs. Successful applicants will receive funding after their proposals are approved by the Ministry and after all parties have entered into a formal written agreement. Successful applicants will be notified in early 2014 and project start dates will be negotiated and stipulated in the agreements. Q31. Why is there a difference in the amount of funding available to projects in the Community Stream versus the Industry Stream? A. The Industry Stream is expected to target larger sectoral, regional and/or occupational skills-gaps while the Community Stream is expected to fund projects that focus on a specific community or population. However, the Ministry in its sole discretion may approve a higher contribution amount for Community Stream projects. Q32. Can approved proposals receive funding from other sources as well? A. Projects may combine contributions from the federal and municipal governments, foundations, private sector and other sources. Other Ontario provincial funding cannot be deemed as a direct contribution to a project; however, organizations receiving provincial funding for core operations may apply. Q33. Where should the 10% cash contribution come from? Can it be waived, is there another option? A. The guidelines state that applicants must provide a minimum cash contribution equal to 10% of the total project cost. Your cash contribution may come from your organization and any number of partnering organizations. The ministry reserves the right to extend funding to projects that do not meet the minimum cash contribution in exceptional circumstances with sufficient rationale. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [17 Page
Q34. Does a proposal need to have a detailed list of its 10% administration costs? A. Projects must provide a breakdown of administration costs. A high level of detail is not necessary. Q35. Is there a maximum amount of in-kind contributions for a project? A. After the 10% cash contribution is made for both the Community Stream and Industry Streams, there is no stipulation on how much of the remaining expenses may consist of in-kind contributions. Project Implementation Q36. When can an approved YSC project start the implementation process? How long should a project last? A. The project start date is subject to negotiation and will be defined in the grant agreement. The project start date cannot be earlier than the date of application. All YSC funded projects must end by January 31, 2016. YSC will give preference for projects that have a plan for remaining operational after YSC funding has ended. Q37. Is there a minimum number of Youth a project must train or employ? A. No. The ministry will consider a wide variety of criteria when evaluating an application including value for money Q38. Can a project charge a participation fee to youth participants for a Youth Skills Connections funded project? A. YSC funded project cannot charge fees for the participating youth. Q39. Will Youth participants be paid while taking part in a training program or project job placement? A. The Industry Stream does not fund wage subsidies for youth participants. However, projects are encouraged to pay Youth participants during the training or related job placements however these wage subsidies cannot be part of a project s eligible expenses. Projects may apply for wage subsidies for youth participants through other federal and provincial programs, including: Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [18 Page
Skills Link program (http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/yi/yep/newprog/sl_application-guide.shtml) Youth Employment Fund (http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/employmentontario/youthfund/). Industry Stream Specific Q&A Q40. What type of evidence is suitable for demonstrating the existence of a Skills-Gap? A. Evidence of a Skills-Gap may be derived from a number of qualitative and quantitative sources including: Statistical data derived from formal studies (e.g. Labour Market Information) Academic studies Sector based reports Survey results Consultations/feedback Q41. How much Industry Stream funding can a project receive? Are there other funding stipulations? A. Successful applicants to this program may be eligible for funding in the form of a grant. The stream has the following funding parameters: Maximum funding of up to $1 million per applicant for the entire duration of the project. Where an application involves several projects at various locations in Ontario, funding may exceed $1 million in total for the combined projects. The Ministry will provide matching funds up to a maximum of 50% of total eligible project expenses (cash or in-kind). A minimum cash contribution of 10% of eligible project expenses is required from the applicant and/or partner(s). Community Stream Specific Q&A Q42. Must an eligible applicant be situated in the area where their project is being implemented? A. There is no stipulation regarding the operating location of an applicant as relevant to their project location, as long as the organization is based in and works primarily in Ontario, and has the resources to deliver the project in the identified area. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [19 Page
Q43. The program guidelines include a list of different categories of vulnerable youth. Is this list exhaustive? A. The program guidelines lists examples of various groups of vulnerable youth however, this list is not exhaustive. Other vulnerable groups can be targeted by a proposal; however evidence must be provided to demonstrate why that group should be considered vulnerable. Q44. How much Community Stream funding can a project receive? Are there other funding stipulations? A. Successful applicants to this program will be eligible for funding in the form of a grant. It is anticipated that the Ministry will fund up to $200,000 per project for the entire duration of the project. The Ministry in its sole discretion may approve a higher contribution amount for larger community projects or those that include multiple communities. The community stream has the following funding parameters: A minimum cash contribution of 10% of eligible project expenses is required from the applicant and/or partner(s). Proposals that cannot meet the minimum cash contribution requirement may be considered with sufficient rationale and at the Ministry s sole discretion. Q45. Are job coaching supports for participants with disabilities an eligible cost for the Community Stream? A. Yes. All Community Stream funded projects must demonstrate how they will provide participation supports for youth participants. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [20 Page
High School Entrepreneurship Outreach Application Process Q1: Can we incorporate a social enterprise model into our outreach project? A. Yes. A social enterprise model can be incorporated into your outreach project and/or other types of entrepreneurship ventures. However, we encourage you to include exposure to entrepreneurship in a variety of sectors so that high school students have a broad awareness of entrepreneurship opportunities in general. Program Funding and Resources Q2: Can we use funding to cover 100% of our internal staff s salary if they are working on the project? A. Yes. 100% of the funding can be used to cover salary if salary costs are directly related to project delivery. The costs are not to exceed demonstrated fair market value. 100% is unlikely though as project activities need to ensure curriculum, administration are also factored in to the cost of the project. Program Implementation Q3: Can we hire staff to deliver presentations in high schools? A. Staff may be hired to deliver presentations as long as costs related to work performed by is pro-rated to the time spent on the delivery of the project. Costs are not to exceed demonstrated fair market value. Questions & Answers (Q&A) 2013-10-29 [21 Page