Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective Sponsors:

What is the Urban Green Team program?

It is a provincially funded youth employment program, administered by the MB4Youth Division of Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. The program is designed to create meaningful and career-oriented summer employment opportunities for youth aged 16-24.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Not-for-profit organizations in Winnipeg (schools/hospitals must apply through their School Division/Health Authority).

What types of projects are eligible?

The program funds a range of activities, including:

• activities for youth (drop-in centres, camps)
• neighbourhood safety
• public education
• tourism activities
• housing rehabilitation/community renewal
• road/public grounds enhancement
• riverbank clean-up/stream maintenance/park clean-up/trail enhancement
• recycling/waste management/conservation

How do I apply?

Application forms are posted online along with all other pertinent information at: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/employers/urbangreenteam.html. Print off the application form, complete it and return it before the indicated deadlines.

How does funding for the projects work?

If your project is approved for funding, you will receive notification in writing stating the number of positions you have been approved for, and the number of hours approved for each position. Organizations will receive up to $250 in support costs for each approved employee. .

How is funding calculated and distributed?

Organizations will be reimbursed $8.84 per hour for each approved program employee to cover the $8.50 per hour wage and 4% vacation allowance. Organizations will be provided with an advance payment of 65% of approved employee wage funding and the full amount for support costs. The remaining 35% of approved employee wage funding will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the project following the submission of a Claim for Reimbursement form.

Approved Sponsors:

Do I need to open a Workers' Compensation file?

All Green Team workers must be covered by Workers' Compensation or equivalent private liability insurance. Workers' Compensation costs can be claimed under the support costs approved for each position.

Do I have to hire a student?

No. The program is open to students and unemployed youth between the ages of 16-24.

Can I pay my program employee(s) a higher wage than $8.50/hr.?

Yes. Organizations are free to top up wages at their own discretion. The program only reimburses up to a maximum wage rate of $8.50/hr. If an organization wishes to pay an employee a higher wage, they are responsible for all additional wage-related costs.

Do my program employees have to get a criminal records check if they are under the age of 18?

Yes. The program requires all employees who are going to be supervising minors (any individual under the age of 18) to get a criminal records check and child abuse registry check, even if they themselves are under the age of 18. The costs for these checks can be claimed under support costs. Program employees who do not work with minors are not required by the program to get a criminal records check.

We have our own uniforms within our organization. Can our program employees wear those instead of the program uniforms?

No. We require that all funded employees wear their issued program t-shirt at all times during work hours, an that all funded sites post the program signage in a visible location.

Can I make changes to the project for which I was approved?

Your approval for program funding is based on the application submitted. Any changes that you wish to make, including number of employees hired, types of activities to be carried out, project location, etc. must be submitted in the form of a written request to the Program Administrator and must be approved prior to project commencement. If a project is found to be engaging in activities that fall outside of what has been applied without Administrator approval, the hiring authority may be held responsible for all wages and other costs related to the project.

Will someone from the program office by stopping by?

The program reserves the right to monitor projects without any advance warning. Any issues that become apparent in these monitors will be brought to the attention of the sponsor.

What will be covered under support costs?

Support costs are used to cover any expenses related to the funded project. This can include anything from work gloves to day camp supplies. Criminal records checks, child abuse registry checks, mileage and Workers' Compensation costs (for not-for-profit organizations only) are also eligible under support costs.

What do I submit at the end of the program work term?

Our office must receive the following by September 30, 2008:

• a completed Claim for Reimbursement form for each program employee
• a signature from the employee on the claim form or payroll records show gross earnings, deductions, vacation pay and net earnings
• receipts for support costs being claimed.