Self-Employment Assistance

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Objective

The Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program is intended to assist persons who are either unemployed or out of school to become self sufficient through the development, operation and sustainability of a viable business.

Eligibility

The SEA program is available to the following individuals:

  • Current Employment Insurance recipients
  • Persons who have been in receipt of EI benefits within the last three years (“Reach backs”)
  • Persons who have been in receipt of Maternity or Parental benefits within the last five years
  • Social Assistance recipients
  • Persons with no current source of income

Required Information

  1. A comprehensive and complete business plan detailing goals and objectives of the business which includes market assessments.
  2. Projections of anticipated revenues and expenditures.
  3. Full disclosure of all sources of start-up financing for the business. This includes personal contributions, loans from other personal sources and any other type of loans whether from the M’Chigeeng First Nation, the Waubetek Business Development Corporation or other financial institutions.

Ineligible Businesses

  1. Mail order or home-based catalogue businesses
  2. Existing businesses whether operational or dormant.

Program Duration

  1. Activities associated with business plan implementation are eligible to be funded for a maximum duration of 52 weeks. Applications will be dealt with on an individual basis. Approved SEA applicants must provide documentation of all developmental activities to the LDM office on a bi-weekly basis.
  2. The maximum duration of any project approved for funding under the SEA program shall be 52 weeks which shall include any approved developmental activities.
  3. Participants will be allowed twelve (12) weeks for business plan development.
  4. Participants will be allowed sixteen (16) weeks for business plan implementation.
  5. Participants will be allowed twenty four (24) weeks for business operations.

Financial Assistance

The following financial assistance shall apply to clients approved for the SEA program:

Active EI Recipients:
Active Employment Insurance recipients shall, upon approval by the LDM and registration with Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), be allowed to continue collecting their regular EI benefits while conducting business operations under the SEA program. Upon approval, individuals under the SEA program do not have to report business revenues when completing their cards or reports.

If an individual exhausts their regular benefits (active claim) while under the SEA program, the LDM will provide a continuance of 75% of their previous Employment Insurance benefit rate for the remainder of their SEA intervention to a combined maximum of 52 weeks.

Reach back Clients:
Under the SEA program, these clients shall be entitled to a continuance of 75% of the benefit rate received in their last claim or a minimum of $ 250.00 per week upon approval by the LDM.

Social Assistance Recipients:
Social Assistance recipients approved for participation in the SEA program shall be entitled to a flat rate of $ 250.00 per week.

Individuals with No Current Source of Income:
Individuals approved for participation in the SEA program but with no current source of income shall be entitled to a flat rate of $ 250.00 per week.

Technical Support:
In addition to approved SEA allowance rates, consideration may be given to providing additional technical financial support to SEA participants. These supports may include:

  • Technical training program funding (i.e. Smart Serve, WHMIS)
  • General business training (customer service, cash register operation)
  • Professional services (implementing and training with an electronic accounting system, bookkeeping/accounting training and/or services, computer software training)
  • Capital purchases to support business development (computer, fax machine, cash register, etc.)
The maximum contribution toward business supports shall be 50% of the total cost to a maximum of $1,000.00. Any contribution toward business supports requires prior approval by the Employment and Community Development Committee. Purchases of supports shall not be funded by the LDM without prior approval. Participants will be eligible to apply for business supports within one (1) year from the date of application.

Amendment

The guidelines for the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program may be amended by the Employment and Community Development Committee as required from time to time.