Targeted Initiative for Older Workers

Age Advantage Plus is funded through Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a joint initiative of the Government of Canada and the NS Department of Labour and Advanced Education, 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.

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Program has been extended to March 31, 2014.

Proposals are currently being accepted for the Age Advantage Plus Program for the 2012/2013 fiscal year and must be received by June 1, 2012.

Applications must be submitted via the Labour Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS) accessible through the LaMPSS home page referenced below.

Click here to access resources required to develop and submit your application:

• Age Advantage Plus Program Guidelines
• LaMPSS
• Itemized Budget Breakdown
• The Age Advantage Essentials Transition Program for Older Workers:
  Developed on behalf of Labour and Advanced Education by the Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship.
  • Essential Skills Workbook
  • Facilitators Guide
  • Topic1 Overcoming Challenges
  • Topic2 Personal Visioning
  • Topic3 Making a Living
  • Topic4 Focusing Your Job Search
  • Topic5 Marketing Yourself
  • Topic6 Self Employment
  • Topic7 Success Stories

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 normally 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.

• Factsheet on EI

If you require further information, please send an email to ageadvantageplus@gov.ns.ca