Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Memorial University

Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP)

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Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Subsidy

Description:

The Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP) provides wage subsidies to small businesses that provide work experience to post secondary co-operative education students in Newfoundland and Labrador. Placements are for 12-16 weeks in duration with the exception of computer science which can range from 8-16 months in duration. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is in the form of a wage subsidy. SECPAP will fund 50% of the co-operative education student’s overall hourly salary up to a maximum of $6.38/hr.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

Applicants must be organizations that have:

  • fewer than fifty employees,
  • annual sales of less than $5,000,000.00,
  • work term located in Newfoundland and Labrador,
  • an individual (generally paid staff) capable of supervising and evaluating students,
  • adequate facilities/accommodations for the placement,
  • a defined task with an appropriate academically relevant job description,
  • a position that is related to the student’s field of study,
  • an understanding of the purpose and academic requirements of co-op work terms,
  • an appreciation of the role of the small business / entrepreneurial sector and its potential for future work,
  • opportunities for students.

Students:

  • must be enrolled in Memorial University of Newfoundland’s co-operative education programs,
  • must be academically eligible to undertake a work term,
  • must be 16 years of age or older and must be eligible to work in Canada,
  • who are immediate family members of applicants would normally be ineligible to be hired in that organization,
  • work term must be located in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Application Steps:

1

complete the application form and attach any requested and/or supporting documentation, 

2

email all SECPAP related documents to cesc@mun.ca or via their co-op office contact, 

3

upon successful approval of their SECPAP application, their organizations will enter into the cooperative education job competition process to find a student suitable for the position (only if the organization does not already have an eligible student). 

Documentation Needed:

The applicant must submit:

  1. 1
    the application form,
  2. 2
    the SECPAP Student Eligibility Form,
  3. 3
    the SECPAP Reimbursement Claim Form (to be submitted on the 1st business day of each month in order to receive your monies)
  4. 4
    proof of payment.

Other Things to Note:

SECPAP is funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Advanced Education and Skills (formerly called Human Resources Labor and Employment) and is administered by the Co-operative Education Services Centre (CESC).

Program Contact:

Small Enterprise Co-operative Placement Assistance Program (SECPAP)

SMALL ENTERPRISE CO-OPERATIVE PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SECPAP)

SECPAP Application & Forms

Ignite Fund

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Amount:

$2,000

Type of Program:

Competition

Description:

The Ignite Fund invests in Memorial University students interested in advancing the growth of an innovative business idea. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is $2,000.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Next deadlines to be determined

Eligibility:

The applicants must:

  • be Memorial students or the team must be mainly comprised of Memorial students (Memorial student(s) need to own at least 50 percent of the company);
  • have not received government or private funding in excess of $20,000 for the business idea (self or family funding is acceptable);
  • have attended a minimum of one meeting with a Start-up Coach at MCE;
  • be located in Newfoundland and Labrador or have their startup incorporated in the province.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must complete and submit the online application form.

Documentation Needed: 

No specific documentation has been identified.

Other Things to Note:

Applications closed on October 17, 2022. Check the website for updates. 

Program Contact:

Ignite Fund | Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship | Memorial University of Newfoundland

Mel Woodward Cup

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Amount:

$25,000

Type of Program:

Competition

Description:

The Mel Woodward Cup is a startup competition organized by the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE) and generously supported by members of the business community. The primary objective of this competition is to help accelerate the most innovative and high-potential student-led startups at Memorial University. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding will take the form of:

  1. 1
    two prizes of $25,000 and $15,000, respectively.
  2. 2
    a $2,500 award for an Early-stage Idea;
  3. 3
    a $2,500 award for Women or Non-binary Leadership.

When It Ends:

27-Feb-23

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be a Memorial student (single applicant) or the team must be at least made of 50% Memorial students co-founders (Memorial students need to own at least 50% of the company).
  • must be located in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • intend to create and operate the startup in Newfoundland and Labrador (if the startup is already incorporated (which is not required for this competition), it has to be incorporated in the province);
  • own a startup with less than 10 employees (employees are not required for this competition).

Application Steps:

No specific application steps have been identified.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must submit either an audio or a video pitch of their businesses.

Other Things to Note:

Timeline (Winter 2023) - Applications open - TBA 

Program Contact:

Mel Woodward Cup | Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship | Memorial University of Newfoundland

Spark Fund

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Amount:

$500

Type of Program:

Grant, In-Kind Support

Description:

The Spark Fund is a fund for first-time student entrepreneurs at Memorial University. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is up to $500 to test the potential of the applicant's idea.

When It Ends:

7-May-23

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be enrolled at Memorial University (in the case of student teams at least 50% must be enrolled at Memorial University);
  • be working on/in pre-revenue startups with no sales and have not received any government or private funding (Family/own funding is acceptable);
  • have not yet taken advantage of the Spark, Ignite, or Mel Woodward Cup Funding for the same or similar business idea.

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit a one-minute video or audio pitch of the idea (selfie videos from their phone are accepted);

2

Applicants must complete a lean canvas for the idea;

3

Applicants must complete the timeline template;

4

Applicants must explain the suggested use of funds.

Documentation Needed: 

No specific documentation has been identified.

Program Contact:

Spark Fund | Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship | Memorial University of Newfoundland