Federal investment supporting business growth and innovation in Manitoba

The Government of Canada is providing $22,781,290 million to support 16 projects in Manitoba.

The combined total investments in the Manitoba economy will support the expansion of manufacturing capacity, support innovation, and the development of advanced digital technology.

Jobs and Growth Fund – Investment of $400,000

JGF provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund, delivered by Canada's regional development agencies (RDAs), provides $700 million nationally over three years. Today, one JGF project funded through PrairiesCan was announced:

• Emerge Knowledge Design ($400,000)
  Launch a standardized waste management data service and conduct a launch campaign.

Business Scale-Up and Productivity Program – Investment of $12,137,052

Through the BSP program, the Government of Canada is supporting high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses. The BSP program supports incorporated high-growth businesses that have been operating in the Prairie Provinces for a minimum of two years. Seven Manitoba BSP recipients receiving funding through PrairiesCan were announced today:

• C.L. Malach Company ($3,722,055)
  Acquire and install state-of-the-art sheet metal fabrication equipment.

• Red River Press Inc. ($735,000)
  Enhance an existing digital homework and student assessment tool. 

• Gryd Digital Media ($400,000)
  Commercialize its new digital parking application to capture underserved demand in the market.

• Smartrend Manufacturing Group ($1,851,305)
  Scale-up their sales and marketing capacity and enhance their internal systems and processes to increase their share of the North American school bus safety market.

• Northquip Inc. ($2,100,000)
  Integrate advanced equipment into cattle chute manufacturing facility.  

• 1434882 Alberta Ltd. operating as Evolution Wheel ($2,796,192)
  Scale-up operations to capture new opportunities in North America for the non- pneumatic heavy equipment tire market.

• OmniGlass SCT Inc ($532,500)
  Integrate advanced equipment, including a new pultrusion machine and a water-based paint line into their fiberglass window frame manufacturing facility.

COVID-19 Relief Fund – Investment of $2,079,808

As part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the COVID-19 Relief Fund assisted businesses to mitigate financial pressures caused by the pandemic. It supported eligible operating costs up to a maximum of 12 consecutive months. Today, three Manitoba COVID-19 Relief Fund recipients receiving funding through PrairiesCan were announced:

• Cubresa Inc. ($113,731)
  Preserve high level positions that provide vital expertise on all aspects of operations, development, program support, and sales.

• Eljo Industries ($966,077)
  Retain diverse and valuable talent, maintain sector knowledge and skills, and protect processes that improve competitiveness in the advanced manufacturing industry.

• Cerebra Health Inc. ($1,000,000)
  Digital skills development to allow a quick return to providing goods and services and to maintain employment.

Regional Innovation Ecosystems – Investment of $6,041,197

Through the RIE program, the Government of Canada makes targeted investments in not-for-profit organizations that support businesses in priority sectors to innovate, grow and compete globally. RIE is open to not-for-profit organizations that support businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs, for start-up, growth, productivity, technology commercialization, technology adoption, and export and investment attraction. Four Manitoba RIE recipients receiving funding through PrairiesCan were announced today:

• ComIT Corp ($858,000)
  Expand digital skills programming throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, with a focus on underrepresented groups in the digital sector.

• New Media Manitoba ($2,030,000)
  Establish a virtual production studio and interactive digital media cluster. 

• Red River College ($756,158)
  Support improvements and industrialization capabilities of Red River Polytechnic's Advanced Composites Development Centre.

• University of Manitoba ($2,397,039)
  Accelerate Manitoba's growth as a leader in value-added agriculture and the further development of the protein cluster. 

Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative – Investment of $2,123,233

ARRI helps the Canadian aerospace sector emerge from the pandemic with renewed capacity to compete on the global stage. This Initiative supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to green their operations and adopt environmentally sustainable practices, to improve productivity, and to strengthen commercialization while furthering integration into regional and global supply chains. One Manitoba ARRI recipient receiving funding through PrairiesCan was announced today:

• University of Manitoba ($2,123,233)
  Establish a controlled, physically separated and fully instrumented facility to increase capacity in research and skills training of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Related products

• News Release: Minister Vandal announces federal investment supporting innovation and business growth in Manitoba

Associated links

• Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
• Jobs and Growth Fund
• Business Scale Up and Productivity Fund
• Regional Innovation Ecosystems
• Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative