Grant Overview

B.C. is striving to build a strong, sustainable, innovative economy with a focus on reducing poverty and inequality. We are working to create good-paying jobs for British Columbians, while ensuring people from every background have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

A key goal of the Community Workforce Response Grant program (CWRG) is to provide flexible and timely responses to emerging and urgent labour and skills needs in B.C.’s communities and sectors.

The CWRG provides funding to communities and sectors for cohort-based, short-term (less than 52 weeks) skills training. The CWRG fully funds training that costs up to $10,000 per participant and provides up to $5,000 for other services and support to help participants overcome training and employment barriers. Please review the stream criteria carefully to see if the CWRG program will meet your training needs.

CWRG-funded training must lead to sustainable employment for British Columbians who are training-ready and seeking to re-enter the labour force or change their employment status.

Priority is given to training projects offering occupational certifications, especially for in-demand skills. Visit WorkBC to explore high opportunity and in-demand skills that are vital to build B.C.’s economy.

It is recommended that first-time applicants contact the Community Workforce Response Grant by email and discuss your training project to ensure its eligibility.

CWRG Steps_1
  1. Using local information and provincial data, identify a workforce skills shortage in your community or sector.
  2. Create or update your BCeID account
  3. Submit application online using your BCeID account. 
  4. Ask and respond to questions from CWRG Program Managers. 
  5. Receive a decision. If approved, accept agreement. If denied, withdraw application.
  6. Once approved, recruit participants and begin training.
  7. Submit a claim for funding based on number of participants in training. 
  8. Submit Complete Report at end of training. 

 

What you should know 

  • Individuals cannot apply directly for CWRG funding. Only community entities and sector associations are eligible to sponsor a CWRG-funded training project.
  • To be an eligible participant in a CWRG-funded project, you must be employed part-time, casually, seasonally, or precariously. 
  • Training can be up to 52 weeks in duration. 
  • While an applicant can submit multiple applications, the CWRG is unable to provide ongoing funding or funding leading to a degree or full apprenticeships. 
  • To learn more about the different eligibility requirements for each stream, go to Eligibility Criteria.
  • Please submit applications far in advance of application deadlines to ensure your project can be assessed while funding is still available. 
  • Application evaluation may take up to 60 days.
  • Consult your local WorkBC office to see if there is a CWRG-funded training project in your area.

Funding

  • The maximum funding per application is $300,000 to cover the combined costs of skills training, employment support services and participant financial supports.
  • The maximum funding per participant is $15,000 per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). This includes the following:
    • Up to $10,000 per participant for skills training costs (e.g.: tuition)
    • Up to $5,000 per participant for the following two training supports combined:
      • Employment Support Services (e.g.: interview and job search skills and resume writing)
      • Participant Financial Supports (e.g.: personal protective equipment, childcare and some food and travel)
    • Employment and participant financial supports are optional costs depending on the training.
    • For the Community Response stream only, the maximum funding per participant in communities impacted by the downturn in the forest sector is $20,000 per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). 
  • Successful applicants are eligible for up to 10% of the total costs of project delivery to support project administration. This value may vary between streams.

What you need to apply

  1. Detailed project description describing the who, what, where and why of your training proposal. See Application Prep Checklist and Support for details.
  2. Letters for support from employers and representatives from the community, or sector and industry associations, depending on the application stream. See Application Prep Checklist and Support for details.
  3. Skills training provider quote (this is a mandatory component; only submit original quote from the provider on company letterhead. See Sample Quote for required information).
  4. Employment support provider quote (this is an optional component; if required, only submit original quote from the provider on company letterhead. See Sample Quote for required information).
  5. Practicum Training List (if practicum is not included in approved curriculum).
     

Stream 1: Emerging Priorities

The Emerging Priorities Stream supports communities experiencing workforce challenges or emerging opportunities that require occupational skills training to address. Some reasons for the shift may be a new economic development opportunity or an ongoing transition in the local labour market that has resulted from an industry closure or expansion, a natural disaster such as a forest fire or a flood, or other conditions that have impacted employment in the community.

Eligible applicants under this stream are:

  • Non-profit service providers
  • Local governments
  • Unions certified to represent employees under the B.C. Labour Relations Code
  • Major employer in a community with a single resource economy

Stream 2: Indigenous Communities

The Indigenous Communities Stream provides funding to Indigenous communities for the occupational skills training and supports needed to meet local labour market needs.

Eligible applicants under this stream are:

  • First Nations governments
  • Tribal Councils
  • Province-wide Indigenous organizations
  • Indigenous-owned or directed non-profit social agencies
  • Friendship centers whose aim is to serve First Nations, Métis or Inuit people.

Stream 3: Workforce Shortages

The Workforce Shortages Stream supports sectors and industries in addressing immediate workforce shortages within the in-demand occupations. It provides funding for occupational skills training and employment supports for British Columbians who are currently unemployed, precariously employed, or employed on a part-time or seasonal basis.

Eligible applicants under this stream are:

  • Industry, sector and employer associations
  • Unions certified to represent employees under the B.C. Labour Relations Code

Stream 4: Community Response

The Community Response Stream is intended to meet the immediate skills training needs of communities impacted by downturns in the forest sector as a result of—but not limited to—old-growth deferrals, mill closures and curtailments.

Eligible applicants under this stream are:

  • Non-profit service providers serving rural and remote communities
  • First Nations and local governments
  • Unions certified to represent employees under the B.C. Labour Relations Code
  • Major employer in a community with a single resource economy
  • Industry, sector, and employer associations