Rural Capacity Investment Fund

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In 2022, Alberta Health Services (AHS), Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre, the Bethany Group (Camrose) and the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) agreed to create the Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF) Committee. The RCIF's mandate is to support retention, recruitment, and relocation initiatives to grow capacity and nursing staff at rural sites.

Between April 1, 2022, and March 30, 2024, annual funding is available to sustain the workforce in the North, Central and South Zones that are difficult to recruit. (Those in the Calgary and Edmonton Zones are not eligible)

$5 million has been allocated each fiscal year to support retention and recruitment initiatives ($10 million in total)
$2.5 million has been allocated each fiscal year for relocation assistance ($5 million in total)

FUNDING UPDATE

Retention and Recruitment Application Update:

As of March 1, 2023, the RCIF Retention and Recruitment Project Initiatives application process is closed. Over 300 applications were received

$4.86 million dollars has been allocated to the 2022 Retention Payment and $2.5 million to the Relocation Incentive to address the 225 applications seeking retention and recruitment bonuses

To date, $900,000 has been allocated specifically toward 30 project initiative applications. The remaining applications are still under consideration

Over $1 million has been disbursed for Relocation Expense Reimbursement and $1.6 million for Relocation Incentives from the $5 million Relocation Fund

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

2022 Retention Payment

In early spring, $4.86 million was disbursed as a retention payment to all UNA employees in the bargaining units of AHS, Covenant Health, Bethany(Camrose) and Lamont in the North, Central and South Zones. (Those in the Calgary and Edmonton Zones are not eligible)

The RCIF Committee sees this payment as a way to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of nurses within the three zones

Eligible employees were those who worked between April 1 - December 31, 2022, and who were still employed as of February 17, 2023

Relocation Funding

$5 million has been allocated for relocation assistance for all UNA employees in the bargaining units of AHS, Covenant Health, Bethany (Camrose) and Lamont in the North, Central and South Zones. (Those in the Calgary and Edmonton Zones are not eligible)

Managers must apply, on behalf of the employee, for the two relocation funding opportunities:

Relocation Expense Reimbursement
Relocation Incentive

Both require successful applicants to sign a Return-For-Service Agreement (RFS), which will run consecutively (one after the other) if the candidate receives both.

Employees with questions regarding either funding opportunity must contact their manager. Managers may contact RCIF with any further questions.

Relocation Expense Reimbursement

Relocation Expense Reimbursement Application Form

Managers must complete the above application on behalf of the employee
Eligible candidates must be relocating to a rural site in one of the North, Central or South Zones
For Relocation Expense Reimbursement, applicants may apply for a maximum of $10,000
Employees must submit expenses within six months of signing the RFS or by March 1, 2024, whichever comes first
The funding is conditional upon completion of a 12-month Return-For-Service Agreement (RFS) effective the first day of employment (unless a retroactive application)
Applications can be made for retroactive hires from April 1, 2022. The RFS for retroactive applications becomes effective on the date of signing the RFS Agreement
This is available to all full-time, part-time, benefit-eligible casual and casual employees within the UNA bargaining unit

CLICK HERE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSE BREAKDOWN TO SEE WHAT QUALIFIES

CLICK HERE for the AHS iExpense Quick Reference Guide

RETURN-FOR-SERVICE AGREEMENT - COMMITMENT PERIOD

New Hire

The commitment period is effective on the first day of employment

Retroactive Hire from April 1, 2022

The commitment period is effective on the day of signing the RFS Agreement

If you are approved for both relocation funding opportunities

The commitment periods run consecutively. Relocation Expense Reimbursement RFS runs first, then followed by the Relocation Incentive RFS

Leave of Absenses

An employee is eligible if they are on a leave of absence (LOA).
Managers can apply based on the eligibility criteria
If successful, applicants must sign a Return-for-Service (RFS) agreement with a commitment period of one year
The Commitment period in the RFS begins the day the employee returns to work from their leave and must be started by March 1, 2024, as all RCIF funds must be spent by March 31, 2024.
The funding would be released when the employee returns to their permanent position.

Relocation Incentive

Relocation Incentive Application Form

Managers must complete the above application on behalf of the employee
Eligible candidates for the Relocation Incentive include existing and new employees relocating to sites in one of the North, Central and South Zones
$10,000 is available for employment relocation for urban sites within the three zones (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray)
$15,000 is available for employment relocation for rural sites within the three zones
Applicants must be relocating at least 100 km from their current worksite to the new worksite
Applications can be made for retroactive hires from April 1, 2022
Successful applicants must sign a 12-month Return for Services (RFS) agreement.
This is available to all full-time, part-time and benefit-eligible casual employees within the UNA bargaining unit
Payments will be processed through payroll and are subject to applicable taxes and other required deductions