New Hire Tuition Reimbursement Grant

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.
The Grant will be administered by the Early Childhood Community Development Program (ECCDC) on behalf of Niagara Region Children’s Services.

ELIGIBILITY
Eligible Staff

  • 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.

Eligible Service Providers

  • Licensed child care program with a service agreement with Niagara Region.
  • EarlyON Child and Family Centre (CFC) service providers with a service agreement with Niagara Region.

Eligible Expenses

  • One-time lump sum grant, up to a maximum of $3,000, provided to eligible staff.

Ineligibility for Staff and Expenses

  • Funding cannot be used for new staff hired before April 1, 2023.
  • Funding cannot be used for new staff who did not graduate from the Niagara College ECE Program.
  • Funding cannot be used for new staff who participated and graduated from the Niagara College Accelerated ECE Program.
  • Funding cannot be used for new staff who received tuition reimbursement through the Workforce Capacity Grant.
  • Funding cannot be used for staff who are employed at a family business and/or employed by a family member.

Eligibility Timeline

  • One-time lump sum grant, up to a maximum of $3,000, payable to new eligible staff who completed 650 hours of paid employment as a RECE, from April 1 2023, to December 31, 2023.
  • Applications received after January 12, 2024 will not be considered.