If you’re grappling with taking your bricks-and-mortar business online right now, you’re not alone. Faced with the changing sales landscape due to COVID-19, many small businesses have had to adapt quickly, taking their sales online rather than in store.
Whether you’re looking to build a new website, develop a digital marketing strategy, or build up your social media presence, having a tech-savvy resource on your team is a must. If you’re looking to add this type of talent now to your small business, the newly expanded, Provincially funded ISI grant program, can help.
About the ISI Grant Program
The Innovator Skills Initiative program, or ISI for short, is a wage subsidy program that helps companies and nonprofits hire post-secondary students for tech role. It’s running until April 30, 2021.
Eligible companies can get up to $10,000 in wage subsidies to hire a BC student.
What Companies are Eligible and Who Can They Hire?
- Must be a BC-based company or non-profit
- Tech companies or tech-focused non-profits can hire for business or tech roles
- Non tech companies or non-profits can hire for tech roles
Students Must Be:
- Enrolled in a post-secondary course or program in BC or returning to class
- Working in BC part-time or full time
- Not hired during an accredited co-op work term (internships and private school co-ops are ok)
International students and contractors (rather than employees) are eligible, so long as they meet the above requirements.
What Counts as a Tech Role?
The definition of tech is wide-ranging–it can be anything from UI / UX design, development, Google advertising, lab work, engineering, and more. Basically any job that uses technology in the day to day role and requires technological expertise.
Application Information
Applications for the program are administered by New Ventures BC, a non-profit in Vancouver, BC. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be backdated to May 1, 2020.
Stacking Funding Available
Funding is also stackable with CEWS and other grant programs, meaning you could potentially have an entire wage covered by using more than one program together.
Terms and hours worked are flexible to meet you and your students’ needs.
Learn More at the Digital Meetup
For more information or to ask questions, join the Digital Meetup with Small Business BC on May 28! Rachel Burns, Program Manager, will be available to speak about the grant and answer your questions.
For further information, you can also visit New Ventures BC online:
