What is OSEB?
The primary objective of this innovative Employment Ontario program is to assist new entrepreneurs in creating jobs for themselves, and potentially others, through self-employment. Working toward self-sufficiency, participants in the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit (OSEB) program receive income support, business plan writing assistance, and ongoing counseling over a 42 week period.
How Does It Work?
The Ontario Self-Employed Benefit program is funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The OSEB Program allows participants to receive their Employment Insurance Benefits while they are getting their business up and running. Individuals qualifying for this program receive income support and business counselling (group training sessions as well as one-on-one business mentoring) following their acceptance into the program.
The OSEB program has been a catalyst for entrepreneurship and small business development in Northumberland and Peterborough Counties.
What Will I Be Doing?
As a participant of the OSEB program you will receive 42 weeks of assistance and training through a variety of forms.
1. You will complete a Business Plan Writing Course
All participants are required to complete a proper business plan. Northumberland CFDC walks you through the process and assists you in creating a viable business plan during the first four weeks of the OSEB program. The course is offered in our fully computerized resource centres in both our Cobourg and Peterborough locations.
2. You will participate in a Business Launch and Ongoing Counselling
After completion of the business plan course and approval to implement, each participant officially launches his or her business. Throughout the remaining 38 weeks of the program, every entrepreneur has regular meetings with a qualified business counsellor at Northumberland CFDC to ensure they are on track for financial self-sufficiency, while offering support and help as needed.
3. You will receive Income Support
All OSEB participants receive income support while involved in the program. This income support is of great assistance to entrepreneurs in the first year of business when revenues can be quite unpredictable.
Am I Eligible?
To meet eligibility criteria, the OSEB applicant must be:
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident legally entitled to work in Canada; and
- meet the definition of an insured individual.
An insured individual means an insured person who at the time of requesting assistance (i.e. the Ministry’s receipt of application) is an unemployed person:
- for whom an EI benefit period has been established, or
- whose EI benefit period has ended within the last 36 months, or
- who is re-entering the labour force after having left it to care for newborn or newly adopted children. The individual must have a benefit period that began within the last 60 months during which they were paid maternity or parental benefits.
Applicants must not have already completed a business plan with the assistance of outside expertise, and must not have begun working on his/her business plan prior to seeking approval from the Ministry. As well, any individual who has previously completed within the last 24 months or is currently enrolled in a self-employment program (i.e. provincial or other) is not eligible for OSEB.
For more information contact:
| Cobourg Office | Peterborough Office |
| John Hayden Manager, Self-Employment Programs john.hayden@northumberlandcfdc.ca 905.372.8315 Ext. 224 Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation 600 William Street, Suite 600, Cobourg Ontario K9A 3A5 |
For the Manager contact John Hayden at the Cobourg Office All other enquiries 705.741.1808 Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation Peterborough OSEB Office 351 Charlotte St, Suite 203 , Peterborough Ontario K9J 2W1 |
Copyright © 2012