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Hometown Green Team Program

Priorities | Projects | Eligibility | Project Assessment | Financial Assistance | Terms and Conditions | Important Contacts | FAQs

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The Hometown Green Team (HGT) program is designed to create meaningful and career-oriented summer employment opportunities for students and unemployed youth aged 16 to 24 by encouraging organizations to initiate a variety of community development projects that will improve neighbourhoods and help build young leaders.

Employment Periods

May 8 start date to August 25: Applications must be received by February 17, 2006
June 19 start date to August 25: Applications must be received by March 31, 2006

Priorities of the Program

• Building Construction - projects that consist of demolition, renovation and/or assisting in machinist/welding activities. Projects would be restricted to property owned by the applicant organization(s). Youth need to be working alongside a qualified tradesperson for additional funding to be considered.
• Public Health Education - projects that increase public awareness of diseases, including early warning signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment information.

Greater consideration will also be given to projects more likely to hire Aboriginal youth, either by virtue of location (northern MB) or the inherent nature of the project (i.e. culturally oriented or targeting Aboriginal client groups).

Projects

• Recreation activities (youth activities, drop-in centres)
• Sports activities for youth (after school programs, sports camps)
• Housing rehabilitation
• Neighbourhood safety programs
• Community building projects
• Community renewal programs (upgrade/clean yards on private, residential and municipal properties)
• Riverbank clean-up/stream maintenance
• Tourism activities
• Park clean-up/trail enhancement
• Improving public facilities (repairs and renovations)
• Recycling/waste management
• Street and road maintenance/enhancement
• Public grounds maintenance/enhancement
• Public education projects
• Conservation projects

• Projects for organizations that impose fees to maintain/upgrade their normal services and/or facilities;
• Research projects, projects proposing environmental advocacy, solicitation of funds or conducting surveys;
• projects that include an overnight stay or a work schedule later than midnight;
• projects located in Winnipeg or in a Federal jurisdiction; and
• lifeguard duties, janitorial work and clerical duties (i.e. payroll, reception, accounting duties, etc.).

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Eligibility

• Be Municipal/Civic Governments, Northern Affairs Community Councils, Conservation Districts and non-profit organizations in rural Manitoba;
• be capable of providing project management and ongoing employee supervision;
• document hours worked each day for each employee;
• have adequate liability and/or Workers' Compensation coverage;
• conduct child abuse registry and criminal records checks on all HGT employees that will be working with children under the age of 18;
• ensure that all employees wear proper safety clothing and are provided with proper safety equipment;
• ensure that all employees are properly trained in the use of any equipment;
• ensure that all work done on private, residential and municipal properties has the required permission from all affected parties;
• post a statement in a visible location and in printed materials that fee assistance is available for any youth who wants to participate in youth activity projects;
• ensure that all employees wear the uniforms provided by the HGT program (hat and shirt); and
• display program signage at project site(s).

• be created as a result of approved funding;
• provide a minimum of 25 regular hours of employment each week and at least six weeks of employment;
• not result in the lay-off, reduction of hours or dismissal of any current employees or replace employees who have previously been laid-off or dismissed; and
• not be funded by any other employment program for the same project

• be youth 16 to 24 years of age (must be 16 before August 25, 2006 and 24 at the time of approved start date);
• be living in rural Manitoba and legally entitled to work in Canada; and
• be finished their studies for the year if in high school. (If a student has completed his/her studies prior to the official school year end, a note must be provided to the HGT program).

• Immediate relatives (husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister) of the hiring authority or any director or official/administrator of the applicant organization;
• individuals already employed by the organization prior to the approved start date;
• individuals with a financial interest in the applicant organization;
• board/executive members of the applicant organization;
• self-employed individuals, independent contractors, sub-contractors or commissioned salespersons; and
• foreign and visiting students.

The eligibility of all proposed employees must be approved by HGT staff before starting work. Organizations requesting referrals to fill approved positions will be provided with the names of local youth who have registered with HGT for referrals.

Exceptions to any criteria must be approved in writing by the Program Administrator.

Project Assessment

Each application will be assessed on its individual merits and the Assessment Committee will exercise its absolute discretion in determining the amount (if any) of grant funding approved for each project. Approval is subject to availability of funds. Program demand may influence the number of hours allocated to approved organizations. All applicants will be notified by telephone and/or mail on the status of their funding request.

• Involvement of other youth in the community.
• Enhancement of the community at large and promoting local improvement or awareness.
• Career-relatedness of the position(s) and the skills and experience that the employee will gain.
• Areas of the province that do not have a lot of employment opportunities.
• Disabled youth, youth living on the streets, youth that have dropped out of high school and youth that are transitioning out of the justice system.

Financial Assistance

• Organizations are eligible to apply for up to four positions (positions cannot be divided between two or more employees).
• A coordinated application on behalf of a group of organizations is welcome.
• The HGT program provides approved Organizations with a wage incentive equal to 50% of the hourly wage (up to $7.60 per hour) plus 4% vacation allowance. The maximum hourly wage incentive is 50% of $7.60 + 4% ($7.90) = $3.95.
• Organizations applying for the first employment period may request up to 560 hours per position. Organizations applying for the second employment period may request up to 320 hours per position.
• Positions must provide employees with a minimum of 25 hours a week for at least six weeks. The minimum number of hours of employment per position is 150 hours.
• The HGT program also provides approved organizations with a 50/50 matching grant to cover capital and support costs (up to $500.00 per application). The maximum amount of funding available is 50% of $500.00 = $250.00.
• Capital and support costs must be directly related to the approved project. Examples of appropriate expenditures are paint, equipment, safety clothing, gasoline, mileage, etc.
• The organization must provide matched funding to the financial support provided by the HGT program. These funds may not be levered from other federal or provincial government programs with the exception of any municipal transfer payment or like funds such as video lottery terminal funds transferred unconditionally to municipalities.
• Reimbursement will not be provided for any hours worked outside the program operating dates: May 8 to August 25 or for hours worked by an employee in excess of eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.
• Organizations are required to provide employees with Workers' Compensation coverage where coverage is considered mandatory by the Workers' Compensation Board. Private liability insurance is required in all other cases. Workers' Compensation costs will be reimbursed for non-profit organizations only.
• Approved Organizations will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the project following the submission of a Claim for Reimbursement form that shall include copies of receipts for capital and support costs.
• Claim for Reimbursement forms along with supporting documentation must be submitted to HGT by September 30, 2006.

Terms and Conditions

• comply with all Federal and Provincial laws and regulations governing employers;
• comply with all labour employment standards directed by the Department of Labour and Immigration;
• issue cheque stubs to each employee for every pay period indicating total hours worked, gross pay, vacation pay, deductions and net earnings;
• issue a T4 slip to each employee by the deadline stated by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency;
• permit identification of the sponsor by name in publicity related to HGT;
• permit advertisement of approved positions by releasing contact information to potential employees;
• provide administration, training and continuous daily supervision for all employees;
• provide information which will assist in reviewing the effectiveness of the program; and
• follow all the terms and conditions as set out on all HGT's Program Information and Grant Application forms as well as all other program documents.

If, in the opinion of program staff responsible for the administration of the Hometown Green Team program, an approved applicant or authorized representative has misrepresented the information provided in the application or other Hometown Green Team documents or has used part or all of the funding for purposes other that authorized on the approved application or fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the program as described, program staff may cancel any funding provided and take the appropriate steps to require the approved applicant or authorized official to repay in whole or part any funds provided. Failure by program officials to take action for non-compliance or for a breach of any or all Hometown Green Team terms and conditions shall not be construed as a general waiver or relinquishment of this right.

Important Contacts

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
To obtain an Employer Registration # and information on employer/employee contributions to EI and CPP, phone 1-800-959-5525.

Workers' Compensation
To inquire about compulsory and non-compulsory registration, contact the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba at 1-800-362-3340.

Employment Standards
If you have any questions regarding your obligations as an employer in the Province of Manitoba, i.e. payment of overtime, vacation pay, etc., contact the Department of Labour and Immigration - Employment Standards at 1-800-821-4307 or visit their web site at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/.

Child Abuse Registry Check
To obtain a child abuse registry check, contact the Child Abuse Registry Unit at 1-800-282-8069 (ext. 6967). This service may take four to six weeks to complete. Two pieces of ID are required and the cost is $10.00.

Criminal Records Check
To obtain a criminal records check, youth must visit their local RCMP office or the Winnipeg Police Service at the Public Safety Building, 4th Floor, 151 Princess Street in Winnipeg (phone 1-204-986-6073). This services may take up to 10 days to complete. Two pieces of ID are required and the cost is $16.00.

Social Insurance Number
For more information on how youth can obtain a Social Insurance Number, contact Employment Insurance Canada at 1-800-206-7218 or visit their web site at www.sdc.gc.ca (under "How do I" heading) for an online application.

Waiver Forms
If you have any questions on obtaining required permission for work done on private, residential and municipal properties or getting a copy of a waiver form, contact your town/municipal office.

Hazardous Materials
If you have any questions about picking up any hazardous materials, contact you town/municipal office.

Hiring Youth
If you need help finding eligible employees, contact our Program Coordinator at 1-800-282-8069 (Ext. 2343). Organizations requesting referrals to fill approved positions will be provided with the names of local youth who have registered with HGT. Organizations can also advertise their approved positions with Manitoba Youth Job Centres.

How to Start a Payroll
For general information on how to start a payroll, please go to http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/Employers/Payroll_Information.pdf

Ideas for Drop-in Centres
To get ideas on activities for drop-in centres, please go to http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/Employers/Drop-in_Centre_Help_Page.pdf

HGT Program
If you have any questions regarding this application or would like more information on the HGT program, please contact the Program Administrator, Denise Gerrard, at 1-800-282-8069 (Ext. 0901) or by e-mail at degerrard@gov.mb.ca.

For frequently asked questions, please visit: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/Employers/HGT_FAQs.html