Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Recent graduates members of designated diversity group

Graduate to Opportunity (GTO)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage Subsidy

Description:

Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) is helping to build a stronger workforce and retain young people in Nova Scotia with a salary incentive that makes it easier to hire recent graduates. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is 25% of the first year’s salary – 35% if the new graduate is a member of designated diversity group – and 12.5% of the second year’s salary.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling Deadline

Eligibility:

The applicant must:

  • be a small business with fewer than 100 employees,
  • be a start-up company incorporated within two years of the application date,
  • be a social enterprise, not-for-profit organization, or registered charity with recognized standing,
  • open a new position, permanent, full-time and pay at least $35,000 a year,
  • not receive funding from any other government employment program for this position.

The graduate he hires must have successfully completed a post-secondary program within one year from the day the application is submitted.

The program can’t consider graduate-employees who have been working for the employer on a permanent basis before the GTO application is approved.

Apprentices in registered trades aren’t eligible for Graduate to Opportunity.

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

1

register in the online Labor Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS),

2

complete the application form and submit it electronically.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must submit:

  • the application form,
  • a description of their organization and its mandate,
  • a job description for the new position you wish to create, as well as its location
  • a T4 Summary for the organization or other documentation to show the number of employees. 

Program Contact:

​Graduate to Opportunity

​Graduate_to_Opportunity_Guidelines.pdf​​​