Backgrounder: Government of Canada launches call for proposals under the new Sustainable Jobs Training Fund

The Sustainable Jobs Training Fund will support a series of training projects that will help workers upgrade or gain new skills for jobs in the low-carbon economy. The Fund will allocate up to $99.1 million for projects from 2024 to 2028. Projects will range from $8 million to $15 million each, with agreements to start in 2024.  

Eligible projects for the SJTF must focus on one of the three following areas to help workers develop the skills required to seize the opportunities in the low-carbon economy:

1. Low-carbon energy and carbon management, including energy-related sectors such as hydrogen, geothermal, wind and solar as well as jobs in carbon management, such as carbon capture, utilization and storage.
2. Green buildings and retrofits, involving the installation of low-carbon heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment (including heat pumps), energy efficient components, or renewable energy systems.
3. Electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure, contributing to the country’s transition to electric vehicles with a focus on the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles, as well as charging infrastructure nationally.

Projects and activities

The Department will accept proposals from organizations that show that they have: 

• Established partnerships or a proven capacity to develop and support partnerships with employers, unions, training institutions and other relevant stakeholders. Partners may include, for example, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous governments and organizations, sectoral stakeholders, or organizations representing equity-deserving groups. 
• In-depth knowledge of skills development, training, and labour market issues with regard to one of the priorities: low-carbon energy and carbon management, green buildings and retrofits, or electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure. 
• Recent experience (within the last three years) delivering initiatives that support skills and workforce development, including designing and delivering training programs leading to certifications or career pathways in French or English.

Projects submitted must:

• Address a training need that is key for one of the priorities.  
• Target a minimum of 1,500 participants and benefit a variety of employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
  • Note: Applications for projects aiming to train less than 1,500 participants will be considered under the low-carbon energy and carbon management priority area only, in which case applicants will need to explain why a smaller target is justified for the type of activities they propose.
• Have activities that take place in at least two provinces or territories.
  • Note: For projects under the low-carbon energy and carbon management priority, a narrower geographic scope could be considered where justified to reflect the regional realities of emerging sectors.  
• Convene key stakeholders and forge partnerships to ensure training is demand-driven and addresses skills needs.
• Have an end date of March 31, 2028. 

 Eligible applicants

The following types of organization are eligible to apply:

• not-for-profit organizations; 
• for-profit organizations; 
• Indigenous organizations, including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities; 
• provincial or territorial governments, including institutions and agencies; and  
• Crown corporations. 

Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to submit their applications electronically on the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various Employment and Social Development Canada funding opportunities in a secure web environment.