Building Sector Capacity, Growth and Competitiveness

• Minimum project value is $50,000 in total eligible expenses; projects below this threshold are ineligible.
• Government cost share is 25% on the first $200,000 of eligible expenses, and 10% for amounts above $200,000.
• The maximum government contribution per project is $2.5 million.
• Projects up to $100,000 in eligible expenses must be completed within a single year; larger projects may span multiple years, with specific completion and reporting deadlines.
• Eligible overhead expenses are capped at 10% of total approved eligible expenses.

• The applicant must be an agri-food processor, agri-product processor, or a primary producer engaged in transforming agricultural commodities into value-added goods.
• Indigenous groups (such as governments, communities, Tribal Councils, associations, and organizations) are eligible.
• The applicant's activities must contribute to transforming agri-products into ingredients or end products, including value-added activities for direct consumption or as ingredients for further processing, or for preparing market-ready agri-products.
• Applicants must provide a copy of their previous year’s balance sheet and income statement.
• Applicants can be located inside or outside Manitoba, but all project activities must occur in Manitoba or result in a positive outcome for the province.

Who is eligible?

• Agri-food processors
• Agri-product processors
• Primary producers engaged in the transformation of agricultural commodities into value-added goods
• Indigenous groups (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), including governments, communities, Tribal Councils, associations, and organizations

Who is not eligible

• Current or former Government of Canada employees.
• Current Manitoba government employees who are majority shareholders (50% or more) in a business or operation.
• Current or former members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, current or former members of the Executive Council, or current or former Manitoba government senior public servants.

Eligible expenses

• Purchase of equipment supporting transformation, preparation, production, or packaging of food, beverage, or agri-products.
• Necessary software purchases, including process integration, quality control, ERP systems (including related hardware and subscription fees for up to three years).
• Professional services for equipment/software commissioning, calibration, training (related to funded equipment/software), project design, engineering, feasibility or environmental consultations, and development of quality control procedures.
• Materials and supplies essential for installing eligible equipment or software, and those required for delivering permitted training events.
• Subcontracted services for installation of eligible equipment and software.
• Overhead expenses required for project completion (e.g., internal materials, use of internal equipment, utilities), capped at 10% of total approved eligible expenses.
• Ancillary components and installation of eligible equipment, such as transport, installation (plumbing, electrical), stands, and related training.
• Facility adaptations directly associated with installation of eligible equipment.
• Process-related materials handling systems (conveyors, process pipes, pallet jacks) and process-related storage solutions (walk-in storage, temperature/humidity control).
• Process-related food safety equipment integrated into broader projects (traceability, detection systems, etc.).
• Rented equipment contributing directly to project completion.

Eligible geographic areas

• Applicants from any location, as long as the project activities occur in Manitoba or generate positive outcomes for the province.

• Quality and clarity of the project description.
• Defined project deliverables and anticipated outcomes.
• Alignment with Manitoba government objectives, such as job creation, increased processing value or volume, greater use of Manitoba agri-inputs, displacement of imports, increased exports, or growth in production value/volume.
• Capital and financial capacity of the applicant to carry out the project.
• Strength and feasibility of the market plan.
• Clarity and completeness of the application submitted.

• Applicants must provide a copy of their previous year's balance sheet and income statement when applying.
• Ownership of all intellectual property created under the program remains with the applicant.
• Applicants must declare all funding sources received for the project on their application.
• Applicants are responsible for maintaining accounting and supporting records related to the project for at least six years after project completion.