New Hire Tuition Reimbursement Grant

The Grant is being provided to recent graduates of the Early Childhood Educator program at Niagara College who complete 650 work hours in the early years and child care sector within Niagara as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE).

Purpose
The Grant is being made available as a recruitment and retention strategy to attract and retain RECEs that graduated from the Niagara College Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Program in 2023. The Grant is intended to provide new graduates:

• An incentive to work as a RECE in the early years and child care sector within Niagara;
• Learn about the sector and opportunities available in the early years and child care sector; and
• Support new graduates in transitioning to a professional environment after graduation.

The Grant will provide up to $3,000 in funding for eligible graduates that complete 650 hours as a RECE in the early years and child care sector.

Eligibility

• A May 2023 ECE program graduate from Niagara College.
• Registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators.
• Completed a minimum of 650 hours of paid employment as RECE between April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 in the early years and child care sector in Niagara.
• Only one application is accepted and each staff is eligible for the grant only once.
• Where a staff decided to leave employment in the sector prior to completion of 650 hours, they are ineligible for the grant.
• The eligible hours of 650 can be completed with more than one service provider.
• Applications received after January 12, 2024 will not be considered.