Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities
Funding 50% of Wages Paid Up to $5,000 per Placement
The Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program provides non-repayable contributions to eligible employers to subsidize the wages of new hires or the upskilling of existing employees that meet the program eligibility. Funding is 50% of wages paid to a maximum of $5,000 for each EWP.
Administered by the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA), the hiring grant supports Ontario’s precision metalworking sector by helping employers hire and deliver meaningful work experiences. The goal is to provide participants with real-world work experience that improves their employability by building their knowledge and skills.
Quick View
Funding Amount
Funding is 50% of the candidates’ wages paid to a maximum of $5,000 per 10-16 week placement. Support up to 12 candidates per employer and a maximum of three placements per candidate, which must be completed on or before March 24, 2023.
Eligible Applicants
Licensed to operate and provide training in Ontario, related to an Ontario job. The program aims to support employers in building a talent pipeline by introducing participants to careers in the precision metalworking sector.
800+
Annual Funding Applications Supported
Apply for This Funding Program
Give your application the best chance of approval. Ryan supports the writing of applications for more than 100 Canadian federal and provincial government grants, tax credits, and no-interest loan programs.
Amount of Funding
- Funding that employers receive from the Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program is a non-repayable grant.
- Applicants can apply for incentives for up to 12 candidates.
- The duration of each Experiential Work Placement (EWP) can be 10 to 16 weeks. Up to three consecutive EWPs for each participant will be permitted.
- The fund will provide incentives to employers of 50% of wages paid up to $5,000 for each Experiential Work Placement; for 2 consecutive EWPs – up to $10,000, and for 3 consecutive EWPs – up to $15,000.
- Wage support from all sources, including the Co-operative Education Tax Credit, cannot exceed the total wages paid for any individual work placement.
- Funding will be distributed through a Training Placement Agreement signed by the employer, the participant, and the CTMA.
- Employers can stack these funds with federal programs for up to 100% of employment costs.
Eligible Applicants
To qualify for Career-Ready with CTMA funding, employers and their candidates both need to be deemed eligible.
Employer Eligibility
To be eligible for funding through the Career Ready with CTMA program, Employers must be licensed to operate in Ontario, provide training in Ontario which is related to a job that is located in Ontario, comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act, maintain appropriate WSIB insurance coverage; and have adequate third-party general liability insurance.
Target companies include SME’s who are part of the Precision Metalworking Sector and whose primary business is focused on the design, manufacture, repair, or assembly of products in at least one of the following areas:
- Tool & Die Manufacturing;
- Mould Making;
- Precision Machining;
- Gauge and/or Fixture Building;
- Additive Manufacturing / Rapid Prototyping;
- Automation / Robotics Manufacturing;
- Machine Tool Building; or
- Cutting Tools Sales & Service.
Priority will be given to members of the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA); however, the program is open to all businesses in Ontario that meet the minimum threshold outlined above.
Employers must have a candidate before applying and have identified a job title with a corresponding job description. If an employer requires assistance in finding a candidate, they are encouraged to contact Robert Cattle, Executive Director at CTMA (rcattle@ctma.com).
Employers must hire each candidate on a full-time basis, pay them an hourly rate of at least minimum wage (currently $15/hour), and provide WSIB coverage.
Candidate Eligibility
Eligible candidates must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent residency status in Canada; be a resident of Ontario; and be eligible to work in Canada and meet the following definitions:
- New Apprentice – an individual who will be enrolled in a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) and will receive trades training as part of an apprenticeship program in the precision metalworking trades.
- High School Graduate – an individual from an Ontario secondary school who has completed Grade 12 and is ready to explore the career opportunities available in the precision metalworking trades.
- High School Student – an individual who is currently enrolled in an Ontario high school technological education specialty program that is specific to the precision metalworking sector; who can work full-time (at least 35 hours per week); and is able to receive a wage of at least $15.00/hr.
- Post-Secondary Graduate – an individual who has recently completed their academic
program of study at a post-secondary institution in Canada. - Post-Secondary Co-Op Student – an individual who is currently enrolled in any diploma, certificate, or degree program, in any year of study, at a post-secondary institution in Canada.
- Upskill an Existing Employee – an existing employee who is looking for advancement within the same company.
- Displaced Worker – individuals who have been displaced from a previous position due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Job Seeker – an individual who is unemployed and seeking full time employment in the precision metalworking sector.
Eligible Positions
All positions funded through the Career-Ready with CTMA program must:
- Be full-time and between 10 weeks and 16 weeks in duration;
- Example: Begin no earlier than April 1 and all placement(s) must be completed by March (employment can continue after the funding period has ended);
- Pay candidates at least $15/hour for the duration of the program; and
Eligible employers can apply for funding to support manufacturing-related roles, including:
- Tool and die manufacturing;
- Mould making;
- Building gauges and fixtures;
- Machine tool building;
- 3D printing and additive manufacturing;
- CNC machining/precision metal working;
- Robotics and automation;
- PLC programmers;
- Design/Engineering;
- CAD/CAM – Computer-assisted design / Computer-assisted manufacturing;
- Software development / Information technology;
- Advanced cutting tool manufacturing; and
- Other: Finance, Administration, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, Program Management, etc.
Program Deadline
Speak with a member of our team to find the latest intake period info for this program or subscribe to our newsletter to be notified.
Averaging of
Time Saving
95%
throughout the application process
Apply for Funding
Successfully applying for the right funding program at the right time, focusing on the right topics is no easy challenge. We provide an average 95% time savings to our clients, compared to businesses that apply for funding in-house.
Related News
-
Top Atlantic Canada Grant and Loan Funding Programs
Eligible businesses located in Atlantic Canada can access government grants and loans to support a wide range of strategic growth projects, including business expansion, capital investment, hiring and training, and research and development.
-
Top Canadian Government Funding Programs for Software Development in 2025
Develop software with help from government funding programs. Find small business grants for software development in Ontario and Canada.
-
Top Canadian Agriculture Grants for the Food and Beverage Industry
Canada’s food and beverage industry can benefit from many government funding programs to support strategic growth projects. Discover top grants and incentives.
-
Procurement Process Documents: Finding the Right Fit
What procurement docs does your business need? Learn more about Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), and Request for Quotation (RFQ).
