Deadline Extended for Immigration Grants

Groups that are interested in developing programs that help immigrants settle and stay in Nova Scotia will have three more days to submit grant proposals to the provincial government. The application deadline, originally set for today, July 26, was extended to Friday, July 29, at the request of interested groups.

Immigration Minister Rodney MacDonald said he is pleased with the level of interest and the quality of ideas coming forward. "This year, government more than doubled the amount of grant funding to support immigration," he said. "We want to give groups some extra time to fine-tune their proposals so their ideas and plans can be thoroughly and fairly assessed."

An assessment committee of federal and provincial officials will evaluate each proposal using the new funding criteria and accountability framework, found on the website at www.novascotiaimmigration.com . The criteria will ensure that money is directed at projects that support high integration and retention priorities, such as language training, work experience, and welcoming communities. Efforts will be made to fund projects across the province, as well as those that support immigration in Acadian and Francophone communities.

Decisions are expected before the end of August.

The funding criteria were distributed to settlement associations, immigration partners, groups that met with Immigration Office staff, groups that submitted unsolicited proposals after the funding was announced, groups that received grants last year, and regional development authorities. Eligible groups must be not-for-profit or be established through an Act of the Nova Scotia legislature.

About $1.5 million is available this year. Out of this total, school boards have already received $250,000, in addition to funding from the Department of Education, to support second-language education in schools.