AIME Green Program (the Yves Landry Foundation) – Skills Training Grant for Manufacturers in Southern Ontario

Amount: up to $100,000

The Yves Landry Foundation is very pleased to establish their newest AIME (Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence) program called AIME Green.

This new program has been created to support Canada going green. This program is offering manufacturers in south, central and eastern Ontario up to $100,000 to offset the costs of training expenses related to upskilling and retraining their workforce to adopt and adapt green manufacturing principles at the shop floor level.

The skill training grant has been generously supported by the Government of Canada.

UPDATE: The program is now closed. It may re-open the next year.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must have between 10-1000 employees in southern Ontario;
  • Must be continuously in business for at least three years (3 years) and demonstrate financial stability;
  • Must operate a manufacturing facility or facilities in Southern Ontario (see map);
  • Manufacture a specific product for sale in Ontario or elsewhere; and,
  • Demonstrate adoption/adaption of greening technologies in products or manufacturing processes

The AIME Green program will support two types of eligible training activities for south, central and eastern Ontario manufacturers.

Eligible Training:

1. Training that supports the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures or a change within the company to clearly support innovations linked to green innovation, increased competitiveness, and domestic and international market access.

2. Training that supports and develops highly skilled personnel in any area that leads to innovation or productivity improvements. Skill training grant can include the development of new engineering skills; training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools necessary to support innovation; and adopting and adapting new technologies, new manufacturing methods or any other business area that will make a southern Ontario manufacturing company to be greener and more competitive.

Amount

  • First time applicants who have never received AIME funding from us in the past may be eligible for up to a maximum of $100,000 with 50% shared costs.
  • Manufacturers who have received funding from us in the past 24 months, are not eligible; and must wait the 24-month period;
  • Manufacturers who have received funding from us in the past, but more than 24 months ago, may be eligible for a second tier of funding; these second generation applications may be eligible for up to $100,000 with a shared contribution up to 25%. In other words, the company must demonstrate 75% of the costs, with a 25% contribution from YLF up to $100,000.

Eligibility Timeline

The program is now closed. It may re-open the next year.

Review Timeline

Within two weeks of approval the successful applicants will be contacted and will be provided with a legal agreement: the Lead Participant Agreement (LPA). Each proponent is asked to review the document thoroughly, and ensure it meets your specific project requirements. The returned agreement will then be reviewed by YLF.

Reimbursement Schedule

Upon completion of the training, the company will provide a summary of the training, the final report as to what was accomplished, and all supporting documentation required to support the expenditures that were undertaken. Once this information has been received, reviewed and accepted as valid, an electronic funds transfer covering the approved project amount will be submitted to the company. This EFT will be sent out within 20 business days of the receipt of the complete and accepted final report and all required supporting documentation. Noncompliance will result in your project cancellation and no funds will be released to support any un-validated expenditures.

Interim payments may be allowed when sending in claims for your completed or partially completed training program. If your training program is $20,000 or less in total grant approval, one interim claim is permitted. If your training program is between $20,000 and $100,000 you are permitted a maximum of two interim claim submissions.

Program’s Budget

This program is offering manufacturers in south, central and eastern Ontario up to $100,000 to offset the costs of training expenses related to upskilling and retraining their workforce to adopt and adapt green manufacturing principles at the shop floor level.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are defined by the project’s and applicants eligibility. This is a competitive funding program that is offered on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

How to Start My Application

Start by verifying your eligibility through our eligibility check form.

Facts about AIME Green Program

  • Established in 1998, the Yves Landry Foundation (YLF) is a not-for-profit charitable organization established by Canada’s manufacturing and business sectors to advance technological education and skills training to address the skilled labour and technical professional shortages facing Canadian industry.
  • Previously, the YLF AIME program focused on supporting innovative Canadian manufacturers selling domestically and globally, whereas the YLF AIME global program only supported Canadian manufacturers selling globally. With previous FedDev Ontario investments of over $40 million, YLF has supported over 675 manufacturing companies which resulted in nearly 9,300 jobs created and maintained.
  • Green manufacturing is the manufacture of products that use processes which reduce harmful environmental impacts, conserve energy, and natural resources, use earth-friendly materials, are safe for employees, communities, consumers, and are economically sound.
  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $815 million in nearly 600 manufacturing projects, creating over 10,000 jobs and maintaining nearly 20,000 jobs.
  • FedDev Ontario is delivering $224 million of the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) to help businesses in southern Ontario and the organizations that support them to future-proof, build resiliency and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green, inclusive and competitive economy.

AIME Initiative (Yves Landry Foundation - YLF)

The Yves Landry Foundation is calling all small and medium sized manufacturers to go GREEN. It is important to remember that sustainable manufacturing isn’t about arriving at a final destination, but about continuous learning, innovation and constantly striving for improvement.

Examples of Projects Funded by AIME Initiative – Yves Landry Foundation – YLF

Southern Ontario Map

southern ontario map