OHS Innovation and Engagement Grants Program

I&E grants fund non-profit and public sector organizations for projects aimed at improving OHS awareness, knowledge and action in Alberta.

Important dates

Overview

OHS Innovation and Engagement Grants are available through 3 funding streams:

Capacity Building

Up to $10,000 per project for activities such as conferences, seminars and learning sessions. Projects must be completed within 12 months of signing the grant agreement.

Action

Up to $20,000 per project for activities such as developing and disseminating information resources and awareness campaigns. Projects must be completed within 18 months of signing the grant agreement.

Momentum

Up to $50,000 per project for activities such as developing and disseminating information resources and awareness campaigns. Eligible projects require partnership with at least one other organization. Projects must be completed within 18 months of signing the grant agreement.

Multiple applications

Organizations can submit applications for multiple projects as long as each project serves distinct and different outcomes.

Eligibility

To apply for an OHS I&E Grant, applicant organizations and projects must meet these guidelines.

Eligible applicants

To be eligible for this grant, your organization must be:

• a non-profit or public sector organization including non-profit companies, societies, municipalities, school boards, health authorities, public post-secondary institutions, and similar extra-provincial entities.
• operating in Alberta

Multi-partner projects

For projects involving multiple partners, funding will only be distributed to the primary applicant, which must meet the eligibility criteria. Partner organizations do not have to fit this criteria. Primary applicants should lead the project, and partner organizations should play an active, but supporting role. See below for more details.

Primary applicant organization

The primary applicant organization's mandate should be clearly related to the project objectives. The primary applicant organizations:

• should have the lead role in planning the project scope, timeline and deliverables
• should act as project coordinator
• will be accountable for all project deliverables and reporting requirements

All funding will be distributed to the primary applicant organization.

Partner organization

The project objectives should align with the organization's goals. Partner organizations:

• will have a role in planning the scope, timeline, and deliverables of the project
• must not be contractors who will be hired to execute a specific task or component of the project
• should not seek financial gain as the primary benefit of being a partner

Eligible projects

Eligible projects must meet the outcomes, priorities and timelines laid out in the grant application.

Outcomes

Projects must focus on at least one of the following outcomes:

• Raising OHS awareness
• Increasing OHS knowledge
• Stimulating positive OHS actions

Priorities

Projects must align with one of the following priorities, or address another demonstrated OHS need, provided the need is clearly explained in the application:

Priority areas for this funding cycle are:

1. Impairment in the workplace due to prescription or recreational drugs, or other factors such as fatigue or stress
2. Psychological hazards, including all forms of harassment
3. Workplace violence (including domestic violence manifesting itself in the workplace)
4. Vulnerable workers, including young or inexperienced workers, recent immigrants, workers with disabilities, low-skilled workers, workers with several jobs, and workers with part-time jobs
5. Exposure to substances that cause occupational disease, such as asbestos
6. Agriculture equipment or processes
7. Powered mobile equipment, including motor vehicles
8. Lifting, pulling, pushing, overexertion, falling, slipping, tripping, or being struck by objects
9. Other (explain)

Timelines

Projects must be completed within designated time frames. Completion deadlines for this funding cycle are outlined in brackets below:

• Capacity Building Grants – within 12 months of signing of grant agreement (by March 31, 2019)
• Action Grants – within 18 months of signing of grant agreement (by September 30, 2019)
• Momentum Grants – within 18 months of signing of grant agreement (by September 30, 2019)

Ineligible projects and expenses

The following projects are not eligible for funding:

• research projects
  • for research funding, see OHS Futures Research Grant
• projects focused on lobbying activities
• activities that an employer is obligated to undertake, according to Alberta's OHS legislation (e.g. providing OHS training for staff)
• a project that has already been completed
• projects that will sustain a long-term funding dependency
• projects that duplicate or replace programs or services already provided by the Government of Alberta
• projects that focus on capitalization of business enterprises

How to apply

Applications are now closed. Please check this page for future application opportunities or contact us to receive email notifications about the program

Step 1. Read the terms and conditions

Read the sample Grant Agreement Template (PDF, 164 KB). It covers the terms and conditions of this grant program, as well as the reporting requirements you will be responsible for if your project is funded. Reporting obligations include final reporting on what was achieved with the grant dollars, and may include interim reporting.

Step 2. Review the Application Supplement

Before applying online, please review the Application Supplement (PDF, 2 MB). It contains detailed information that you need to know before you decide to apply.

Step 3. Complete the online application

The online application is now available.

Ensure the total amount of funding requested in the online application:

• doesn't exceed the maximum project funding amount
• matches the total amount requested in the Application Supplement; otherwise the lower amount will be used

Once the Online Application is submitted, you'll receive an email confirming your submission. Please reply to this email.

Step 4. Submit the Application Supplement

The Application Supplement requires detailed information about the project. Download and submit the completed Application Supplement by email to OHS-IE-Grants@gov.ab.ca.

After you apply

After you apply, the following steps occur:

1. Initial screening
   • Once all components of the application have been submitted, an initial screening is done to ensure that the application is complete and meets the eligibility criteria.
2. Internal review
   • Applications that pass the initial screening are evaluated by Alberta Labour staff, who evaluate applications by considering:
     • the project's alignment with at least one strategic priority area, or another demonstrated OHS need
     • whether the project focuses on at least one of the desired outcomes
     • the reach and impact of the proposed project, including consideration of the target audience size and the methods proposed to reach that audience
     • whether the application clearly outlines an issue to be addressed, the plan to address it, and how success will be measured
     • whether the project timelines are clear and reasonable
     • whether the project budget is clear and reasonable
     • whether resources needed for the project have been identified and will be available, or a plan is in place to make them available
   • Reviewers may also consider the applicant's performance if they've previously been awarded a grant by Alberta Labour.
3. Funding decision
   • A decision is made by the department after the two reviews are completed.
   • Applicants will be notified of the results of their applications.

Current recipients

See current and past research projects that were funded by the OHS Innovation and Engagement Grants.

Contact

To contact this grant program:

Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll-free: 1-866-415-8690
TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton)
TTY: 1-800-232-7215
Email: OHS-IE-Grants@gov.ab.ca