NOHFC Workforce Development: up to $35,000 to fund an AI or tech internship in Northern Ontario

The program subsidizes up to 50% of an intern's salary for businesses — and up to 90% for municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profits — for skilled roles in technology, trades, and professional fields across Northern Ontario.

The NOHFC Workforce Development Program is a Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation program that subsidizes internship wages at organizations across Northern Ontario. It pays up to $35,000 per internship position per year — covering up to 50 percent of salary plus the employer's share of mandatory employment-related costs (MERCs) for for-profit businesses, and up to 90 percent of salary plus MERCs for municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profits, and academic institutions. Eligible positions are those requiring sustained skill development: technology, skilled trades, and professional roles qualify; general manual labour, clerical work, and retail or sales positions do not. Intake is continuous with no fixed deadline. Each organization can hold up to two funded positions at once. Confirm your specific eligibility directly with NOHFC before building a hiring plan around this program.

What the program pays — and to whom

The program distinguishes sharply between for-profit businesses and public or community-sector organizations. For-profit businesses receive coverage of up to 50 percent of the intern's salary plus MERCs, to the program maximum of $35,000 per position per year. Municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, and research institutions receive coverage of up to 90 percent of salary plus MERCs, to the same $35,000 ceiling. In both cases, the program funds salary costs only — discretionary benefits, training costs, equipment, and travel are not eligible expenses. NOHFC disburses funding in installments: one payment after the six-month mark and a final payment upon completion of the internship, both based on actual costs incurred.

Eligible organizations: who can apply

The program is open to for-profit businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, and research institutions operating in Northern Ontario. To be eligible, the organization must have been in operation for at least one year and maintain a minimum of one full-time employee. Recruitment must be fair and transparent — positions must be advertised through public channels, not filled privately. Hiring immediate family members of owners or directors is generally not permitted, with limited exceptions in small and remote communities. Contact NOHFC directly to determine whether your organization type and hiring situation fall within the program's scope.

Roles that qualify — and roles that do not

The program is built for positions that require meaningful skill development over an extended period. Technology roles — software development, data analysis, IT administration, cybersecurity, digital marketing — are the type of position the program is designed to support, along with skilled trades, professional services, and research roles. A business hiring its first dedicated AI or software specialist, a municipality bringing on a GIS or data analyst, or a non-profit adding a digital communications position are the kind of use cases that fit.

• Positions requiring minimal training for fewer than six months are not eligible.
• General manual labour roles do not qualify.
• Clerical and administrative positions are excluded.
• Retail and sales positions are excluded.
• Positions that would displace or replace an existing employee are not eligible.

Intern requirements

The person filling the funded position must meet all of the following criteria, as stated by NOHFC:

• At least 18 years of age.
• Reside in Canada and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Be a new entrant to the workforce, a career-changer, or an unemployed or underemployed person entering a new field — the program targets individuals building new skills, not those already established in the role.
• Must not have previously participated in an NOHFC-funded internship.
• Must work a minimum of 35 hours per week for at least 52 weeks.
• Must receive direct on-site supervision from the host organization.

Maximum of two funded positions per organization

Standard organizations — businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profits — can hold a maximum of two NOHFC Workforce Development positions at the same time. Colleges, universities, and research institutions are eligible for up to five research-specific positions in addition to the standard two, for a combined maximum of seven. Organizations that have previously held funded positions can apply for additional rounds, provided each new intern meets all eligibility requirements independently.

How to apply

Applications are submitted through NOHFC and reviewed in a multi-step process: an initial submission evaluated against program guidelines, a detailed review phase, and a final decision by the NOHFC Board of Directors. Intake is continuous — there is no fixed deadline — but funding is limited and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an approved position. Contact NOHFC at 705-945-6700 or through the inquiry portal at myportal.nohfc.ca to confirm your organization's eligibility, identify whether the role you want to fill qualifies, and understand what the application package requires. Reaching out before posting the position is the practical way to avoid building a hiring timeline around a program that may not cover your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

• Can the program fund an AI or software development role? Technology positions requiring sustained skill development over the internship period are the type of role the program is built for. Whether a specific position — say, a machine learning developer, a data analyst, or a software engineer — qualifies depends on how it is structured and scoped. Confirm with NOHFC that the role description and supervision arrangement meet the program's requirements before proceeding.
• Can a business combine this with the SR&ED tax credit? The NOHFC Workforce Development Program covers salary costs for the intern position; SR&ED covers qualifying R&D expenditures, including eligible salary costs on qualifying scientific or technical work. If the intern is performing qualifying R&D, there could be interaction between the two programs. A qualified SR&ED preparer can assess whether the intern's work meets the SR&ED definition of eligible experimentation and whether stacking is appropriate for your specific situation.
• Does the intern need to be a new graduate? No. The program targets new entrants to the workforce, career-changers, and unemployed or underemployed individuals entering a new field. A mid-career professional pivoting into a technology role, or an experienced trades worker transitioning into a new sector, could qualify — provided they have not previously held an NOHFC-funded internship and meet all other program criteria. Confirm the specific candidate's eligibility with NOHFC.

Source: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation — Workforce Development Program (nohfc.ca/public-program/workforce-development-program/). NOHFC inquiry line: 705-945-6700; application portal: myportal.nohfc.ca. Program details, coverage rates, eligible roles, and funding availability can change — confirm directly with NOHFC before applying. This is general information, not employment or funding advice.