Program Guidelines

Program Objectives:

  The Community Enhancement Program is a targeted employment creation program focussed on creating short term employment initiatives for eligible recipients.

  Employment supports provided through this program are aimed at projects which provide an enduring benefit to the communities and which have an economic development or community infrastructure focus.

  Wherever practical, the program will leverage and combine with other government programs or community based fundraising initiatives to supply materials, specialized labour, and other non-labour related project components.

Eligible Recipients:

  Eligible recipients would be individuals or families who are either unemployed or under-employed and have not been successful in establishing a current year eligibility for Employment Insurance benefits.

  The program is geared towards assisting families and others with no source of employment income and limited potential to otherwise establish Employment Insurance eligibility.

  Wage rates under the program are limited to $6.25 per hour increasing to $6.50 per hour effective January 1, 2006, unless cost sharing initiatives with community based groups, or other government funded programs, such as HRSDC, permit the payment of higher wages. Where specialized or skilled labour is required to facilitate a project, such as for electrical, carpentry or plumbing, approval may be granted by the program administrator at the Department of Municipal Affairs for a sponsor to pay those higher wages.

Eligible Projects:

  Eligible projects ideally provide an enduring benefit to the communities, are consistent with government's economic development strategy for the region and are labour intensive initiatives which maximize the employment creation element of the program.

  A maximum of 25% of total labour cost including mandatory employment related costs (MERC) can be levied for materials. A maximum of 10% of the total labour cost including (MERC) may be levied for administration costs. Variances may be permitted in extenuating circumstances, however, proponents would require prior written approval of the program administrator. Proponents are encouraged to seek other funding sources or cost-sharing arrangements so as to maximize the number of hours/weeks of employment from available funding.

Example:

Project Applicant:
Project Name:
Project #:

Description		Approved
Work Weeks	80	27,200.00
MERC (Mandatory Employment Related Costs)	13%	3,536.00
Total Labour		30,736.00
Materials	25% Maximum	7,684.00
Administration	10% Maximum	3,073.60
Total		41,493.60

  Examples of eligible projects include those which are targeted at community recreation initiatives, municipal infrastructure projects, environmental improvements, forestry, agriculture, fisheries infrastructure, brush cutting and other labour intensive projects. These projects will, in addition to being labour intensive, be relatively short term and small scale.

  Eligible projects must consider the gender composition of the eligible recipients and make appropriate provision for gender inclusiveness.

Eligible Project Sponsors:

  Eligible project sponsors include; non-profit organizations, community based agencies, service groups, churches, municipal councils, local service district committees, development agencies, etc.

  Provincial government departments and agencies can utilize the program as a funding mechanism to deliver projects which are consistent with government's overall economic development strategy, provided a community based sponsor is available to manage and deliver the project. In exceptional situations, government departments or agencies could also act as project sponsors. Project proposals from departments or agencies would be considered within the context of the regular project selection and screening criteria outlined below.

  Project proponents who participated in prior job creation programs but who did not meet all of the program requirements may not be eligible

Funding Allocations:

  Available funding will be notionally allocated to the various regions of the province and the total notional funding allocations will be communicated as part of the program guidelines such that potential sponsors will understand the magnitude and context of potential funding availability.

Delivery Strategy:

  The program utilizes a community based project sponsor and delivery model.

  Potential sponsors are responsible to develop the project concept and submit an application to the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. Included in the application will be a projected assessment of the workforce needs in the area, an estimate of the employment impacts of the project and details of cost sharing arrangements or the leveraging of other sources of funding or fund raising. Project proponents should also demonstrate any partnering opportunities which are encompassed in the concept and, where practical, quantify the benefit which the completed project is anticipated to have on the community. Where applicable, sponsors should demonstrate plans for long term sustainability, ie if the proposal calls for development of infrastructure, how will this be sustained or maintained over time.

  Applications will be received from all regions of the province up to the closing date, August 31, 2005 after which all submissions will be assessed and project approvals granted.

  Projects may be undertaken at any time after approval provided they are completed prior to the end of government's fiscal year of March 31st.

Project Selection:

  After the deadline for receipt of proposals, an inter-departmental committee of officials from the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, Innovation Trade and Rural Development, Tourism Culture and Recreation as well as Human Resources Labour and Employment, Forestry and Agrifoods and the Rural Secretariat will be tasked with evaluating all project proposals received from within each geographic region.

  Project selection will generally be in accordance with the regional allocations and will be focussed on achieving the primary objectives of the program. To the extent possible, selected projects will be consistent with the economic development strategy for the region.

  Preference will be given to those projects which provide enduring benefits to the community from either an economic or infrastructure development perspective. Likewise, priority will be given to projects which demonstrate broad based community support as evidenced through partnering at the local level on cost sharing or in-kind contributions. The leveraging of other funding sources will be a key consideration as will the ratio of employment benefits to total project cost.

  Preference will also be given to initiatives that build upon existing project development plans, where synergies exist with other initiatives or where longer term projects can be developed in multiple phases.

Appeal Process:

  An appeal mechanism exists to hear appeals from individuals who, due to extenuating circumstances, may not be able to access a project. Likewise, project sponsors will have access to the project screening committee, as necessary, for the purpose of identifying any shortfalls or deficiencies in their project submission such that they may be able to improve upon their project concept or application for potential access to a program another year.

Contact Information:

Applications and further information may be obtained bye clicking here or by contacting the Department of Municipal Affairs at the following address:

Department of Municipal Affairs P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Attn: Ron Murphy

Phone 729-5400