This Manitoba grants guide can help small businesses and business owners find funding that works for them. From exploring Manitoba government grants to location-specific support like Winnipeg grants, this guide can help companies find and apply to funding programs to help them start, manage, or expand their operations.
Learn more about other provincial grants guides if your business operates in another part of Canada.
When applying to all types of Manitoba small business grants, applicants will need to provide information and documentation before receiving funding. Therefore, when beginning the grant application process for these funding programs, small business owners and individuals should collect the following information:
Businesses must meet specific eligibility criteria to be approved for funding from a grants program. An essential piece of criteria all companies must have is the ability to operate legally within the province by the Canadian government. This means you must register your business in Canada and show proof of legal operation in order to apply for the programs below.
Small and medium businesses that are for-profit, corporations, and sometimes not-for profits, can access the funding streams provided by the Manitoba government as well as third-party organizations. Sometimes grants are location-specific, meaning a business must reside and operate within a particular location to receive funding opportunities.
For example, a downtown business in Winnipeg might apply for Winnipeg grants versus a business located outside the city, which would need to apply to programs oriented for the wider Manitoba province set out by the Canadian government. Therefore, always identity the eligibility criteria before starting your grant applications.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is a government grant program put on by the Government of Canada to help businesses within the agricultural sector. CAP provides funding for farmers within each province as a means to promote the sustainable growth of this industry. Federal, provincial, and territorial governments are allocating $3 billion into this Partnership over five years from 2018 to 2023.
Under Ag Action Manitoba, funding for these Manitoba government grants is split into four segments for the province:
Farmers: Activities eligible for funding under this category include agricultural crown lands forage productivity, training and consulting, beneficial management practices, and research and innovation
Agri-processors: Activities eligible for funding under this category include market development, capital assets and equipment under $1 million, capital assets and equipment over $1 million, and research and innovation
Industry organizations: Activities eligible for funding under this category include organizational development, industry development, resource development, training, and research and innovation
Researchers and industry service providers: Activities eligible for funding under this category include watershed ecological goods and services, environmentally beneficial management practices, market development, capital assets and equipment under $1 million, capital assets and equipment over $1 million, and research and innovation
Depending on the funding stream, agricultural industry sector, and eligible activities, the amount provided by this grant will differ. That being said, many of the programs offer financial support between 50% and 75% for eligible costs, with some maximum contributions capped at $100,000 per project.
Overall, the Manitoba government program has $176 million in funds to allocate to businesses within the five-year period.
Within the four streaming categories, there are multiple types of grants that businesses can secure. Still, all eligible businesses must be part of the agriculture sector, whether farmers, agri-food and agri-product processors or agri-business members. In addition, associations, commissions, nonprofit organizations, boards, academic and research institutions, indigenous governments, and communities that fall into this industry category are eligible for funding.
Start the application process for this business funding program on the Government of Manitoba’s website.
This Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit, (SBVCTC) offers a non-refundable tax credit of up to 45% to individuals and corporations that acquire equity capital in eligible Manitoba enterprises. This program is aimed at Manitoba small business corporations looking to expand and raise equity from high net-worth individuals to invest a minimum of $10,000 per investor.
It's important to note that the tax credit is for the investors in the Manitoba companies, not the companies actively operating within the province themselves. Therefore, this credit is an incentive for those investors to invest capital into the Manitoba economy to lower their taxable income.
Small business corporations can issue shares for new equity investments to investors of $100,000, up to a maximum of $10 million. These investors who purchase eligible investments will be able to earn a non-refundable tax credit of 45% again Manitoba taxes payable.
Eligible investors in the program must invest a minimum of $10,000, up to no more than $500,000, per company within the approval period in order to receive the tax credit.
The maximum tax credit an investor can earn is $225,000 total. However, the maximum amount that can be claimed within a tax year on taxable income is $120,000. The remaining credit amount can be carried forward for up to ten years, or carried back for three.
To be considered an eligible small business corporation under this tax credit, companies must:
Eligible investors cannot be specified shareholders in the company they are looking to invest in, at any time within the 24 months preceding the purchase of eligible shares. This means a shareholder that directly or indirectly owns shares within the chosen Manitoba company cannot claim the tax credit. However, investors that become shareholders as a result of this initial investment are still entitled to the tax credit.
Fill out the tax credit application form. Once completed, applicants can send off a digital copy to
ecdevprograms@gov.mb.ca or send a hard copy to the SBVC Tax Credit Program Economic Programs Branch.
The Manitoba Bridge Grant Program offers financial relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This government business funding is meant to support Manitoba businesses dealing with applicable public health orders.
The Manitoba Bridge grant program will award small and medium-sized businesses actively operating within Manitoba with a one-time contribution of $5,000. Home-based businesses may also receive a grant equal to 10% of their 2019 gross income, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Eligible Manitoba businesses that can receive government funding include companies or organizations that have been actively operating their business within the province immediately prior to the implementation of applicable public health orders. Or, the business or organization was required to fully close their premises to the public as a result of the Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders put into effect on November 12, 2020, or during any revisions to those Orders.
General inquiries and applications can be sent to the government email mgi@gov.mb.ca, or by calling the toll-free number, 1-866-626-4862.
The Innovation Growth Program (IGP) is a cost-sharing program that assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and commercializing new innovative products or processes.
Funding is allocated for the development and growth stages in the business’ life cycle to strengthen its financial position and reduce the risks associated with innovation. Therefore, in terms of Manitoba small business grants, this program specifically aims to leverage private sector investment for new product development, create economic growth and job opportunities, and grow exports.
For that reason, only certain business activities will be approved for funding, such as the development and/or commercialization of new innovative products or processes, or the creation of net new hires of Manitoba residents. Under this program, innovation is defined as a product or process that is currently not available on the market- something that will make significant improvements to an existing product, process, or technology.
Eligible Manitoba small businesses can apply to this program to receive a non-repayable grant of up to a maximum of $100,000 per project to cost-share eligible expenses on a 50/50 basis. Therefore, the grant contribution cannot exceed 50% of total costs. This means businesses must cover 50% of eligible project costs by themselves or through other non-government sources, which must be identified at the time of application.
Eligible organizations applying to this program must meet the following criteria:
Successful applicants must illustrate the quality of the project, its market for innovation, management capacity, commercialization plan and business model, the investments secured, and the benefits to Manitoba.
Business funding grant applications can be started by sending this information, the application forms, and supporting documentation to ecdevprograms@gov.mb.ca. Hard copies of the application form and documents can also be sent to the Economic Programs Branch in Winnipeg.
Businesses can apply to Manitoba small business grants, like the Workforce Development program to secure assistance that will provide support services for their human resource management needs. Under this program, businesses can secure resources and government funding to develop and implement HR and employee training, whether that be through direct service delivery, arranging relevant internal and external resources, or funding to support training and HR development.
The amount awarded through the workforce development program will be decided on a client-by-client basis. Support is custom-prepared depending on a number of factors, including economic and other benefits to Manitoba, outcome and costs, training needs, workforce impact, and more.
Eligible Manitoba small businesses must be private, for-profit companies that have a Canadian Business Number and the necessary licenses needed to operate in Manitoba. Specifically, small and medium-sized enterprises are the program’s target group.
Send your general inquiries or start the application process by contacting the Manitoba Government Inquiry department by calling 204-945-3744, or their toll-free number in North America at, 1-866-626-4862. Interested applicants can also email mgi@gov.mb.ca to learn more about the application intake period and process.
Like the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant (CMJG) , Manitoba government grants aim to support small businesses with non-repayable government funding to purchase training programs and improve employee skill sets. Specifically, this government program focuses on increasing the employability and value of new and existing employees of applicable small businesses.
The government grant can cover up to 75% of training costs for small companies with fewer than 100 employees, or up to 50% for companies with over 101 employees, with a maximum contribution limit of $10,000 per approved trainee.
Successful business applicants will either be private employers, not-for-profit organizations, industry associations, sector councils, union halls, First Nations, or municipal governments.
In terms of training applicants, eligible requirements for participants include Canadian citizens or permanent residents, full-time, part-time, seasonal employees, or unemployed. Individuals that reside in another province but work within Manitoba can also apply.
Start the application process for government funding on the Government of Manitoba’s website.
The Downtown Winnipeg Connect Grant focuses on connecting local city businesses with one another to gain the services they need and improve revenue generation and economic development. Successful grant applicants will be matched with a downtown Winnipeg business to provide a needed service, helping the applicant sustain their business while also supporting the partnered business by providing services.
The grant amount is considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the services needed and the businesses connected.
Eligible businesses of these Winnipeg grants must have the following criteria:
Downtown Winnipeg Biz manages the grant and has stated that 20% of the grants will be allocated to Black, Indigenous, or person-of-colour-owned businesses, while a further 20% of grants will be for women-owned businesses.
Start the application process online. You can also fill in the PDF application form and email it to info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com, or send a hard copy to the Downtown Winnipeg Biz office.
The above Manitoba grants are just some of the funding opportunities businesses can use to improve or expand. Besides business grants in Manitoba, companies can also look to small business loans to help them fund their operations.
If you do decide to apply to any of the programs above, you’ll want to get your Manitoba grant application off to a good start with accounting software like QuickBooks Online. Easily manage your business’ books and generate financial reports to ensure you get the funding you need. Start your free trial today.
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