Minister Vandal announces federal investment supporting innovation and business growth in Manitoba Français
Over $22.7 million of PrairiesCan funding to support innovation and growth in Manitoba.
WINNIPEG, MB, Nov. 18, 2022 /CNW/ - Manitoba is home to a dynamic and diversified economy, full of skilled workers and entrepreneurs. The province is known for its rich agricultural base, transportation expertise, vibrant arts community, and as a significant manufacturing hub. The Government of Canada is taking more steps to ensure Manitoba is a place for industry to grow and enterprises to thrive, resulting in good jobs for Canadian workers.
Today, at the home of the future New Media Manitoba StudioLab XR in Winnipeg, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced over $22.7 million in federal funding for 16 projects across the province as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. This investment is expected to create nearly 850 new jobs, 187 of which will be for highly qualified personnel. The projects are anticipated to result in over $200 million of revenue growth and $130 million in export sales.
One of the projects announced today include a first-of-its-kind virtual media production-training studio in the Prairies. Others support businesses across a number of sectors. ComIT will expand digital skills programming on the Prairies, with a focus on underrepresented groups in the digital sector. Two of the projects are at the University of Manitoba—one to construct a controlled facility to test unmanned aerial vehicles, and another to develop the advancement of technologies supporting the protein research cluster.
Funding for the projects is supported through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), the COVID-19 Relief Fund, the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program, and the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI). PrairiesCan in Manitoba administers all five federal programs.
"Our investment today will support both Manitoba's economy and businesses helping to continue to make Manitoba a great place to invest, do business and create good jobs people can count on. Our partnership with Manitoba businesses will help them in acquiring the tools, capital and support they need to thrive as significant contributors to the Prairie and Canadian economies."
- The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan
"ComIT is thrilled to partner with PrairiesCan in a new 3-year project to bring free training to Indigenous peoples, Newcomers and other underrepresented communities across the Prairies who are interested in Digital Skills to join the tech talent pool. We look forward to continuing working together with the Government of Canada to accommodate as many applicants as possible to grow the tech sector ecosystem."
– Pablo Linstingart, Executive Director, ComIT
"Innovation in the interactive digital media industry is driven by big ideas, the newest technologies and talented professionals. However, with the rate of change moving faster than ever, preparing a modern workforce with the right skills is an ongoing challenge. StudioLab xR facility is designed from the ground up to provide solutions to these challenges. By providing certified expertise, industry-leading tools, and a space to learn, explore and create, we can ensure the Manitobans are ready for jobs of the future"
- Louie Ghiz, Executive Director New Media Manitoba
"Canadian companies in the Prairies are relying on drones more and more to assist with everything from bridge inspections to precision farming and water sampling. Dr. Phil Ferguson's research at the Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba is advancing these applications by developing intelligent control systems that enable companies to adopt these mobile robotic technologies safely and reliably. A new DroneZone facility, made possible by funding from Prairies Canada, will accelerate this critical research by providing an indoor proving ground for the next generation of drones and mobile robotics."
- Dr. Marcia Friesen, Dean, Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba
- The Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program advances PrairiesCan's strategic priorities. It supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses.
- The Jobs and Growth Fund (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 3 years. This includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.
- 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.
- Through the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (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, export, and investment attraction.
- The Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI) helps the Canadian aerospace sector emerge from the pandemic with the 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.
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).
- Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
- Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP)
- Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE)
- Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (AARI)
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SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada
Kyle Allen, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, [email protected]; Amanda Houssin, A/Director, Policy, Planning and External Relations, Prairies Economic Development Canada, [email protected]
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