The AIME Green Program is now closed.
Managing operations in an environmentally and socially responsible way, is no longer a nice-to-have, it is essential. Companies in Ontario/Canada continue to face escalating costs of materials, transportation and energy. Consumers, investors, and local communities are speaking with their wallets, demanding to buy goods and receive services that are earth-friendly and sustainable both in materials and processes.
Many businesses have already started to take the necessary steps, but many small and medium sized manufacturers still struggle with their short-term survival, cost pressures from clients, or lack of knowledge and know how to invest in environmental improvement initiatives. Innovation and competitiveness must go hand in hand with green technology – in other words, sustainable manufacturing.
What is green manufacturing? Green manufacturing is the manufacture of products that use processes which reduce harmful environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, use earth-friendly materials, are safe for employees, communities, consumers and are economically sound.
Big business is often entrenched in its old practices; small and medium sized businesses have flexible business models and are less reliant on old ways of doing things. Evolving and innovating quickly can gain an advantage over the competition.
YLF is calling all small and medium sized manufacturers to go GREEN.
It is important to remember that sustainable manufacturing isn’t about arriving at a final destination, but about continuous learning, innovation and constantly striving for improvement.
The Yves Landry Foundation is very pleased to launch our newest AIME (Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence) program called AIME Green. This new program has been created to support Canada going green. This program is offering manufacturers in south, central and eastern Ontario up to $100,000 to offset the costs of training expenses related to upskilling and retraining their workforce to adopt and adapt green manufacturing principles at the shop floor level.
Our popular program has been generously supported by the Government of Canada, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, through the Jobs and Growth Fund.
To be eligible for AIME Green, SME’s must meet the following criteria:
- Have between 10-1000 employees in southern Ontario;
- Have been continuously in business for at least three years (3 years); and demonstrate financial stability;
- Operate a manufacturing facility or facilities in Southern Ontario (see map);
- Manufacture a specific product for sale in Ontario or elsewhere; and,
- Demonstrate adoption/adaption of greening technologies in products or manufacturing processes
The AIME Green program will support two types of eligible training activities for south, central and eastern Ontario manufacturers:
- Training that supports the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures or a change within the company to clearly support innovations linked to green innovation, increased competitiveness, and domestic and international market access.
- Training that supports and develops highly skilled personnel in any area that leads to innovation or productivity improvements. This can include the development of new engineering skills; training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools necessary to support innovation; and adopting and adapting new technologies, new manufacturing methods or any other business area that will make a southern Ontario manufacturing company to be greener and more competitive.
- First time applicants who have never received AIME funding from us in the past may be eligible for up to a maximum of $100,000 with 50% shared costs.
- Manufacturers who have received funding from us in the past 24 months, are not eligible; and must wait the 24-month period;
- Manufacturers who have received funding from us in the past, but more than 24 months ago, may be eligible for a second tier of funding; these second-generation applications may be eligible for up to $100,000 with a shared contribution up to 25%. In other words, the company must demonstrate 75% of the costs, with a 25% contribution from YLF up to $100,000.
You must use the application portal to submit a project for consideration. You will be required to set up a profile; the application will be available to you inside the profile account. Make sure you keep your user id and password safe.
Please be patient, as we anticipate a high volume of applications. Please fill out your application thoroughly and completely the first time, to minimize delays in your application.
Our Program Coordinator will be in touch with you once your application has been received.
Letter of Training Certification
To apply for the AIME Green program please click this link to navigate to our Online Application Portal:
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