The Alberta Government has recently released a new grant to help with employers and employees with their training programs related to their job. The grant is available to employers/trainees, once all conditions have been met and can cover up to $300,000 per fiscal year for the company OR a maximum of $10,000 per eligible trainee.
Eligibility of the CAJG grant:
1. Who:
a. AB Private sector employers including both sole proprietors and partnerships
b. AB Non-profit sector employers
c. AB First nations and Metis Settlements
2. Must show:
a. AB employers who have current or potential employees who need training to fill current or future positions
Eligible Trainees:
1. One of the following:
a. Canadian citizens
b. Permanent residents
c. Business owners (incorporated/unincorporated/sole-proprietor/partnerships) with 4 or fewer employees (including all owners), are now eligible trainees
d. Employed family members
2. Must live in Alberta
3. The eligible trainee can be receiving EI benefits so long as it is noted on the application for CAJG
Ineligible Trainees:
1. Related party individuals (including, Company owners, shareholders, any members of the employer’s board or council) of businesses who have more than 4 employees.
2. Family members of the company
3. Temporary foreign workers
Eligible Trainers:
1. Must be business related and provided by a 3rd party
Types of Training
1. Must be a total of 21 instructional hours or longer per trainee per application
2. The training must commence within 6 months after receiving CAJG approval
3. Training must be completed within the year (or 52 weeks) of the training course start date
4. Upon completion, some sort of credential must be awarded (ie: record of completion, certification, grade, etc.)
5. Training can be given out on a full time or part time basis and can be both in-person or online.
6. Not included: apprenticeship technical training programs and self-study programs.
7. Examples of what may be included:
a. Tuition fees
b. Mandatory student registration fees
c. Examination fees
d. Textbooks/software programs required
e. Training course materials
f. Eligible travel (only if the training is over 100km (one-way) from the employer’s job site.
Application Process
1. All eligible employers must apply through the “Labour’s workforce grants portal” (see link: https://cajg-step.labour.alberta.ca/SignIn?ReturnUrl=%2F)
a. You will require a MyAlberta Digita ID (MADI) for the application process
2. Applications are completed based on the training type. Meaning only one application is needed for all trainees, so long as the training is the same and taken at the same time.
3. Training completion forms:
a. All related receipts must be supported by the employer/applicant. If the training is paid for by the trainee, supporting documentation for the reimbursement from the employer is required.
b. Forms must be submitted within 30 days of training completion in order to be eligible.
4. Funding
a. Two-thirds of the eligible training cost can be granted by the CAJG program, up to a maximum of $10,000 per existing trainee per fiscal year
b. If the individual is an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of the training cost can be covered, up to $15,000 per trainee
c. Employer’s who apply for the CAJG, have a cap of $300,000 per fiscal year
