Deadline: 01-Aug-2026
The Skills Development Grants program supports initiatives that build practical, job-ready skills aligned with labour market gaps in Toronto’s creative industries. It focuses on improving employment readiness by funding training programs that directly respond to high-demand roles in creative, technical, and digital sectors. The program is designed to bridge the gap between training and employment, with strong emphasis on workforce outcomes and inclusion.
Program Overview
- Supports skills training aligned with labour shortages in creative industries
- Focuses on employment readiness and workforce development
- Builds practical, technical, and business skills for creative sectors
- Targets high-demand roles in creative and digital industries
- Supports pathways from training into employment
- Typical grant size ranges from CAD 2,500 to CAD 15,000
- Prioritizes not-for-profit and community-based delivery models
Key Focus Areas
Practical Skills Development
- Trades, crafts, and technical skills in creative industries
- Hands-on training in production and applied creative work
- Technical skill-building for industry-specific roles
Employment Readiness
- Training aligned with labour market demand
- Preparation for entry-level and mid-level creative industry jobs
- Skills mapping to high-demand occupations
Creative Technology and Digital Skills
- Foundational software training for game development
- Digital production tools and creative technologies
- Technical competencies for digital creative sectors
Business and Professional Skills
- Business development training for creative professionals
- Entrepreneurship and freelancing skills
- Workplace readiness and career development skills
- Life skills supporting long-term employability
Funding Details
- Grant range is CAD 2,500 to CAD 15,000
- Focus on short-to-medium term training initiatives
- Supports programs addressing specific labour market gaps
- Emphasis on measurable employment outcomes
Eligible Organizations
- Must be based in Toronto or serve Toronto-based individuals or organizations
- Must be in good standing with the City of Toronto
- Eligible applicants include:
- Registered not-for-profit organizations
- Registered charitable organizations
- Urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organizations
- Community centres affiliated with the Association of Community Centres
Eligible Activities
- Workforce training programs in creative industries
- Technical skills development for creative roles
- Digital and software training programs
- Game development foundational training
- Business skills and entrepreneurship programs
- Job readiness and employability training
- Programs supporting underrepresented communities
- Initiatives linking training to employment opportunities
Ineligible Activities
- Development of for-profit products, technologies, or platforms
- Artistic or talent development for individual artists
- Production of creative or artistic works
- Purely artistic programming without employment outcomes
- Commercial projects not focused on workforce development
Program Objectives
- Address labour shortages in creative industries
- Improve access to employment pathways
- Strengthen workforce readiness for technical roles
- Support equitable access to creative jobs
- Build transferable skills for long-term employment
- Reduce barriers for underrepresented groups
Key Selection Priorities
- Alignment with labour market needs
- Clear employment or job-readiness outcomes
- Practical and applied skills training
- Inclusion of equity-deserving communities
- Strong link between training and employment
- Feasible and outcome-focused program design
Target Impact
- Increased employment readiness in creative sectors
- Stronger pipeline of skilled creative workers
- Reduced skills gaps in the industry
- Greater inclusion in creative employment
- Improved transition from training to jobs
Conclusion
The Skills Development Grants program strengthens Toronto’s creative industries by funding practical, employment-focused training initiatives. It prioritizes programs that build real-world technical, digital, and business skills aligned with labour market demand, helping individuals move directly from training into sustainable employment while improving inclusion in the creative workforce.
For more information, visit City of Toronto.