Searching for Self-employment / Entrepreneurship

• Provides comprehensive employment and job search services
• Offers assessment of skills, interests and experience
• Provides job search strategies, including resume preparation
• Offers information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• Coordinates on-the-job training, work experience
• Offers help in maintaining employment
• Provides information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• Offers help in identifying human resource skills requirements
• Provides matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• Provides support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• Provides financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• Assistance available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Youth Job Connection

• Offers paid pre-employment services, job matching, paid job placements with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers
• Also provides mentorship and education and work transitions supports

Youth Job Connection Summer

• Provides summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the year

Offering free services to job seekers and employers over the phone and through email, text and other digital platforms - Modified hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm

• Provides comprehensive employment and job search services
• Offers assessment of skills, interests and experience
• Provides job search strategies, including resume preparation
• Offers information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• Coordinates on-the-job training, work experience
• Offers help in maintaining employment
• Provides information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• Offers help in identifying human resource skills requirements
• Provides matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• Provides support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• Provides financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• Assistance available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Offering free services to job seekers and employers over the phone and through email, text and other digital platforms - Modified hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm

• Offers a one-stop central location for the provision of streamlined, professional, and customer focused services to individuals and businesses in a confident and inviting environment
• Recognizes, supports and meets the needs of all individuals and businesses while embracing and adapting to changes in the economy and labour market
• Provides career assistance and assists individuals to enter or re-enter employment, change occupations, relocate and enrich their current employment
• Provides Newcomer and Settlement Services as well as the Resettlement Assistance Program for Refugees
• Assists with the Ontario Employment Services

Resource Room

• Offers free access to computers with internet, labour market information, education and training information, community information, referral services, telephone, faxing, long distance calls, job postings, and workshops

Employment Consultants

• Offers one-on-one counselling in areas such as job search, career exploration, education and training alternatives, referrals to appropriate agencies and services, job coaching, on-the-job training supports as required, resume screening

Functions as a regional development organization

Delivers three key programs in Northern Ontario:

Northern Ontario Development Program

• Assists with community economic development, business growth and competitiveness, and innovation activities, resulting in long-term benefits for local communities
• Provides repayable and non-repayable contributions to non profit organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises
• Priorities include:
  • Community Economic Development
  • Business Growth and Competitiveness
  • Innovation

Community Futures Program

• Supports 24 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in Northern Ontario, providing an array of business and counselling services, as well as financial assistance to not-for-profit corporations and small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Ontario

Economic Development Initiative

• Provides support to Francophone communities for their economic development projects

Offers a community initiative aimed at facilitating social action projects including job-skills training and small-business mentoring

Mentorship Program

• A program for low-income individuals aimed to assist Ontario Works clients and marginalized under employed persons who are interested in entrepreneurship to start small businesses

Leadership Skills Training

• An 8-12 week program aimed at teaching youth leadership skills so they can be successful in the leadership roles in various organizations in the community

Mentorship Program for Entrepreneurs

• A program which matches business start-ups with proven successful leaders from the community who offer mentorship and business advice on a volunteer basis two to three hours a month

Go For Gold, I Love to Move and Let's Move Recreation Programs

• Out-of-school recreation programs, aimed at developing fitness and social skills of youth participants

Sweet Change

• Owns and operates a social enterprise chocolate manufacturing and wholesale company
• Offers training in life skills, business techniques, employment standards, employer expectations and entrepreneurship to employees

• Works to generate and maintain permanent employment for individuals through the creation and support of business start-up initiatives and economic-based community projects
• Provides convention services, festival and events planning
• Promotes tourism and tourism development
• Offers general marketing support
• Provides access to economic research data

Functions as a business assistance centre providing information related to starting and operating businesses including but not limited to:

• Business registration and incorporation
• Enterprise and empowerment zones for tax credits
• Small business loans

Offers the following supports and services:

• Access to government contracts
• Access to credit and financing resources
• Loan form preparation assistance
• Customized training
• Technical assistance on market research, marketing plans and business plans

Promotes and assists in the development of knowledge based industries and businesses

Business Support Services

• Assists with Business Plan development
• Connects small to medium enterprises (SME) to expertise (legal, financial, sector specialists)
• Provides business mentoring and guidance
• Offers assistance with grant writing and financing strategies
• Offers knowledge transfer events and workshops
• Offers financing advice (angel investments, venture capital, commercial loans)
• Provides guidance on public funding
• Provides access to market information including market intelligence reports
• Assists small to medium enterprises (SME) adopt technology

Business Incubation

• Encourages the establishment and growth of start-up businesses
• Offers office space for lease including private suites or cubicle pods available for either regular incubator or virtual incubator usage
• Provides furnished office space for lease including access to fax, copier, internet and phone access
• Provides access to business support services

• Supports Science and Technology Sector development
• Provides business support and funding services

Offers business support services, youth programs and business incubation opportunities

• Operates Acorn Information Solutions (AIS)
• Operates the Protolaunch video game design program and summer job opportunity for youth
• Provides workshops for professional development
• Offers opportunities for partnering and business development
• Provides promotion and awareness for businesses and technologies
• Offers information technology services

• Works with individuals, businesses and community partners to facilitate the creation and maintenance of jobs and to build healthy, sustainable communities
• Provides free business counselling services to new and established businesses in the areas of business plan development, loan package preparation and financial management
• Provides internet access for business purposes, including marketing research and business plan development
• Provides access to its resource library offering comprehensive selection of print, electronic and video resources to assist those wanting to start, manage or expand their business
• Enables investments to be made through repayable loans, equity participation or loan guarantees, so that eligible individuals and firms can start, maintain, or expand their business
• Provides Employment Assistance Services (EAS)

Also facilitates the following services:

• Northeastern Ontario Youth Internship Program (NEOYIP) to assist businesses to hire a youth intern
• Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to assist businesses under financial pressure in various areas

• Partners with the Sault Ste Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC) to offer a special loan fund to help stimulate economic activity in the downtown core of Sault Ste Marie
• Offers a repayable loan with flexible payment terms up to a maximum of $100,000 with the possibility of a portion forgiven

Costs covered can include:

• Equipment
• Inventory
• IT upgrades
• Relocation costs
• Renovations
• Start-up costs
• Working capital

Provides financial services in the form of a loan for individuals wishing to:

• Start a business
• Expand an existing business
• Reopen a seasonal business
• In need of extra capital

Loans can be offered up to $150,000 (may be increased to $500,000 on an exception basis) for the following purposes:

• Business start-up
• Business expansion, change of ownership or to purchase a building
• Purchase of assets/equipment and working capital needed
• Completion of a business plan

Works to introduce youth across Northern Ontario to the business world and specifically to entrepreneurship as a career option

Facilitates nine programs for youth with the following facilitated by Sault Ste Marie:

• Youth Enterprise Camp, a week-long camp of fun and activities to teach teens about entrepreneurship including creating a business plan
• Enterprise Olympics, a competition with cash and scholarship money prizes for secondary students to engage them to start businesses

Assists new or recently started small businesses through their most vulnerable developmental stages

• Provides entrepreneurs with training, business skills development, business counselling, mentoring from local business leaders, networking opportunities and potential for capital to start, grow, or buy a small business
• Provides access to coworking space and office services including high-speed internet, teleconference, and video conferencing systems, business mailing address, meeting room, board room fully equipped with a SMART board, and a whiteboard
• Offers successful entrepreneurs an opportunity to apply for up to $5000 in provincial grant funding
• Offers outreach to individuals who have barriers to accessing the service or live in a high-needs community

Provides an Adult Learning Centre

• Offers upgrading in English, Math and Essential skills to prepare students for credit programming or to re-enter the workforce
• Assists students to get ready for their GED exam through GED preparation classes
• Offers employment-focused computer courses including keyboarding, basic internet, email and word processing
• Offers entry level computer skills courses including Excel, Presentation Software, Simply Accounting, Quick Books
• Offers retail, hospitality and call centre skills training
• Offers English as a Second Language (ESL) program

Provides an Adult Learning Centre

Offers the following programs:

• Alternative school child care
• Home study assisted learning
• Co-operative education
• Summer School
• Basic educational upgrading
• Employment counselling

Secondary school courses offered in the following subjects:

• Business and computers
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Science
• Home study

Responsible for stimulating local economy and developing economic initiatives and opportunities for the Band members

• Provides employment and training opportunities
• Responsible for development of plans for the use of traditional lands for community members
• Works to access funding for band-owned current and proposed business ventures
• Endeavors to acquire business development opportunities for band members
• Provides coaching in areas such as business plan development and assistance in obtaining financial support for people wanting to start own business

Current economic initiatives Missanabie Cree First Nation is involved with include:

• Management of the Island View Camp (IVC), purchased in 1999
• Partnership agreements with several mining and forestry companies in the region
• Project completion of the Multi-Purpose Facility
• Ratified agreement (2005) with Tembec Ontario, a manufacturer of wood products
• Interests in the mining sector with several community members employed at Island Gold Mine near Dubreuilville
• Ownership of two sq miles of patented mining claims adjacent to the old Renabie mine property which requires remedial work
• Pledge of $10 million in Oct 2019 to help with the proposed construction of a 33-bed drug detox/withdrawal management facility in Sault Ste Marie; pledge would cover five years of operating costs for centre once it's built

Responsible for stimulating local economy and developing economic initiatives and opportunities for the community

• Provides services through guidance and partnership with Waubetek Business Development Corporation
• Works to generate and maintain permanent employment for individuals through the creation and support of self-employment initiatives and economic-based community projects
• Works to access funding for band-owned business ventures
• Provides coaching in areas such as business plan development and assistance in obtaining financial support for people wanting to start own business
• Maintains local business directory
• Responsible for development of plans for the use of traditional lands for community members
• Assistance with purchase of Salzburger Hof Lakeshore Resort in 2019 to repurpose and operate the facility as a mental health and addictions treatment centre

Training and Employment Assistance

Provides employment assistance in following areas:

• Pre-employment assistance with necessary skills training to compete in the job market
• Employment start-up assistance for individuals entering full-time, part-time and seasonal employment; eligible expenses are: supplies (hard hats, work boots/shoes, gloves), clothing (nursing uniforms, coveralls), and one-time travel expenses for relocation purposes
• May also cover expenses such as recertification tests (First Aid/CPR, welding tickets), medicals, bus passes and testing fees

Responsible for stimulating local economy and developing economic initiatives and opportunities for the community

• Provides services through guidance and partnership with Waubetek Business Development Corporation
• Works to generate and maintain permanent employment for individuals through the creation and support of self-employment initiatives and economic-based community projects
• Works to access funding for band-owned business ventures
• Provides coaching in areas such as business plan development and assistance in obtaining financial support for people wanting to start own business
• Maintains local business directory
• Responsible for development of plans for the use of traditional lands for community members

Provides services within the following programs:

• Capacity Development
• Employment and Training
• Job Development
• Housing Development
• Lands and Estates
• Membership
• Natural Resources
• Utility Commission Office

Current economic initiatives Garden River First Nation is involved with include:

• Garden River Championship Golf Course
• Administration of seasonal Ojibway Tent and Trailer Park

• Responsible for stimulating local economy and developing economic initiatives and opportunities for the community
• Provides services through guidance and partnership with Waubetek Business Development Corporation
• Works to generate and maintain permanent employment for individuals through the creation and support of self-employment initiatives and economic-based community projects
• Works to access funding for band-owned business ventures
• Provides coaching in areas such as business plan development and assistance in obtaining financial support for people wanting to start own business
• Maintains local business directory
• Responsible for development of plans for the use of traditional lands for community members

Provides services within the following programs:

• Capacity Development
• Employment and Training
• Job Development
• Housing Development
• Lands and Estates
• Membership
• Natural Resources

Current initiatives include:

• Bio Centre marketing and developing; includes 45 acres of farmland, 16 greenhouses, 15 support buildings, a testing lab and a 6,000 sq ft refrigeration unit
• Advisory services for local businesses

Provides an Adult Learning Centre

Offers various programs and services including the following:

• Adult Credit Program
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Literacy and Basic Skills
• Night School
• Summer School
• Heritage Language Program
• Skills assessments
• Job vacancy postings
• Career testing
• Basic educational upgrading
• Employment counselling
• Labour market information
• Access to computer, fax and photocopy machines for job searching purposes

• Provides strategic leadership for sustainable economic development
• Develops markets and encourages investment
• Assists in community and social development
• Gathers, maintains and provides access to relevant community economic research data
• Offers general marketing, business and financial plan assistance
• Maintains a business resource library

Functions as a business assistance centre providing information related to starting and operating businesses including but not limited to:

• Business registration and incorporation
• Enterprise and empowerment zones for tax credits
• Educational Resources
• Financial resources
• Labour profile

• Provides comprehensive employment and job search services
• Offers assessment of skills, interests and experience
• Provides job search strategies, including resume preparation
• Offers information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• Coordinates on-the-job training, work experience
• Offers help in maintaining employment
• Provides information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• Offers help in identifying human resource skills requirements
• Provides matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• Provides support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• Provides financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• Assistance available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Youth Job Connection

• Offers paid pre-employment services, job matching, paid job placements with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers
• Also provides mentorship and education and work transitions supports

Youth Job Connection Summer

• Provides summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the year