Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
Age Advantage Plus is funded through Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a federal-provincial partnership developed to aid unemployed older workers in communities affected by significant workforce downsizing or workplace closures through programming aimed at reintegrating them into employment.
Age Advantage Plus targets individuals ages 55-64. Its primary objective is to prepare older workers for new and immediate employment in their communities. The Department of Labour and Advanced Education works in partnership with community-based organizations to develop and deliver Age Advantage Plus programs.
Every TIOW project requires a project sponsor. Project sponsors are organizations responsible for planning, designing, and implementing an Age Advantage Plus project, developing a project model that responds to the needs of older workers and the community.
Age Advantage Plus project proposals from sponsors for 2011/2012 must have been received by February 21, 2011.
Eligiblity
As part of the funding guidelines for the TIOW, projects must take place in communities that are affected by significant downsizing, closure(s) or experiencing ongoing high unemployment. The Halifax Regional Municipality is not eligible for this program.
Priority will be given to:
- Communities affected by closures or downsizing in traditional industries such as fishing, agriculture, forestry, textile (& apparel) and mining.
- rural communities that do not have employment services and training facilities readily available to residents
- projects whose activities support community economic development strategies and activities.
In order to be eligible to participate, older workers must:
- be between 55-64 years of age*
- be unemployed
- be legally entitled to work in Canada
- lack marketable skills, or skills needed for successful integration into new employment
- live in an eligible community.
*All projects must be designed for, and marketed, to unemployed individuals aged 55-64. In exceptional circumstances, workers aged 50-54 and over the age of 64 may participate, but priority should be given to those aged 55-64. Although not targeted, older workers in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits may participate in a project.
If you require further information, please send an email to ageadvantageplus@gov.ns.ca