Green funding opportunities

Male and female co-op student prepping for interviews

Is your business planning or currently working on a green initiative project?

For any companies working to building green technology, environmental projects or focusing on green initiatives, you may qualify for the following funding opportunities.

Project Learning Tree Canada

50% wage matching

Amount: Up to 50% wage match to employers hiring youth aged 15-30 into forest, conservation, climate change, sustainability and parks jobs (up to a maximum of $5,712 per youth).
Who can apply (eligibility):

Any organization that will offer work experience opportunities to students in the green jobs sector. Work experiences must be from 2-20 weeks in duration and must take place between July 13, 2020 and March 31, 2021.

The job must be a Green Job from the approved list of green sectors:

  • a position within the scope of a Green Job: one that supports nature-based solutions for a more sustainable planet (see Appendix 1 for a list of examples);
  • the duration of the work experiences must be from a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 20 weeks
  • work experience must take place in Canada
How to apply: Watch a video on how to apply to a green job posting
Application due date:  Until spots last, program ends February 2025

Career Focus Green Jobs

 Up to $13,500 in wage subsidies for recent graduates

Amount: Offers up to $13,500 in wage subsidies over six months to employers to hire a recent graduate from any discipline into a “green job”.
Who can apply (eligibility): Businesses in the Biotech sector that have a green mandate and are hiring a co-op student for a role with an environmental focus. This organization offers funding opportunities for both co-op students and new graduates.
How to apply: Visit the Career Focus Green Jobs website and submit an application form.
Application due date: Varies depending on the fund program.

United Nations Association in Canada: Green Spaces

Available across Canada

Amount: A wage subsidy (approximately 50%) for the duration of your Green Spaces participant’s employment at your organization
Who can apply (eligibility):

Employer eligibility:

  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Private-sector companies
  • Municipal governments, provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown Corporations
  • Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities);
  • Post-secondary institutions or research labs
How to apply: Email the Green Spaces Regional Co-ordinator nearest you. Visit the UNAC Green Spaces page.
Application due date: For most up-to-date due dates, visit the UNAC Green Spaces page.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada: SD Tech Fund

Available across Canada

Amount:

SDTC will provide on average funding for 33% (up to 40%) of eligible project costs along with the following funding requirements.

  • Funding from all levels of government must not surpass 75% of eligible costs.
  • At least 50% of eligible project costs must be incurred in Canada.
  • 25% of the eligible costs must be funded through private sector contributions (including in-kind)
Who can apply (eligibility):

Canadian small and medium sized enterprises advancing innovative technologies that are pre-commercial and have the potential to demonstrate significant and quantifiable environmental and economic benefits in one or more of the following areas: climate change, clean air, clean water, and clean soil.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

  • Be a Canadian company developing a new and novel technology with significant and quantifiable environmental benefits that will provide a significant retained Canadian benefit following execution of the project.
  • Have a defined project and be looking to demonstrate a pre-commercial technology.
  • Have a strong end-user, value proposition and be able to validate the market and commercialization potential of the technology.
  • Form a consortium that includes at least one other partner (recommended that applicants seek partners who are either end users or able to validate the need and market for the technology).
How to apply: Submit an application through the Sustainable Development Technology Canada website.
Application due dates: Due dates throughout the year