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Program Overview

MMDF (Manitoba Mineral Development Fund) is a $20M provincial fund, administered by the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, that funds northern economic development and mining projects that create Indigenous partnerships, grow employment in northern Manitoba, and stimulate investment.

Mineral development-related projects outside of Northern Manitoba are also eligible for funding. Each year MMDF can approve projects undertaken by municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit or for-profit organizations that align with the Fund’s objectives.

Key Objectives

  1. Increase mineral exploration and development in Manitoba.
  2. Support workforce and business development to strengthen the mining supply chain in Manitoba.
  3. Advance economic reconciliation through meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, businesses, and the mining sector in Manitoba.
  4. Support economic development in mining communities impacted by changes in mining activity (closures, downsizing, expansion, new development)

Program Eligibility

ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS
• Municipal or regional governments established by or under provincial statute
• A private sector body including for-profit & not-for-profit organizations (incorporated organizations must be incorporated or registered under The Corporations Act to conduct business in Manitoba)
• An Indigenous organization or community as represented by their leadership.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
• Must be located within the Province of Manitoba.
• Must align with one or more of objectives for the program.
• Must demonstrate tangible economic benefits (e.g. maintaining current employment, job creation or enhancement, incremental income within an identifiable time frame).

Project Selection Criteria

Applications for funding will be assessed based on the project’s overall alignment with MMDF’s objectives and the project’s potential outcomes, location, feasibility, and viability. More specifically, projects will be analyzed using the following selection criteria.

PROJECT SELECTION

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION
Alignment with MMDF’s objectives
  • How well does the proposed project align with one or more of MMDF’s objectives?
Project outcomes / impact
  • What tangible or measurable outcomes does this project result in?
  • What are the short term and long-term benefits of the project?
  • To what extent are proposed project activities are incremental in nature (e.g., investment in new technology, mobilization of additional equipment or staff).
Project feasibility
  • What resources (human, financial) are available to successfully complete this project?
  • What historic results does the proposed project demonstrate?
  • Does the proposed project demonstrate a reasonably feasible:
    i. Project work plan
    ii. Project budget (including reasonable and eligible project costs)
    iii. Location (existing infrastructure)
    iv. Project team
    v. Financial commitment and capacity
    vi. Ability to meet regulatory requirements
Project Collaboration & Partnerships
  • Does the project demonstrate local support and involvement of local community in project planning and implementation?
  • To what extent are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with local communities on the project?
Long term viability of project
  • To what extent will the proposed project be viable in the long term?
  • To what extent will this project require an ongoing financial support from MMDF?

Application Process

Criteria Description
APPLICATION
  1. Staff to determine appropriate application form
  2. Complete draft application
  3. MMDF staff reviews application and provides feedback Contact
APPROVAL
  1. Application Review Committee reviews the application
  2. Application Review Committee makes a recommendation for approval
  3. Board provides final approval for the project
AGREEMENT MONITORING
  1. Contribution agreement entered into between MMDF and proponent
  2. Schedule for project monitoring established
  3. Grant issuance based on project performance

Grant Requirements

Grant Terms

Projects funded by MMDF will be subject to the following guidelines for the provision of funding.

  1. Applicants are eligible to apply for a maximum of one project per calendar year.
  2. For-profit applicants are eligible for funding in the amount of 50% of capital and non-capital costs associated with the project.
  3. Non-profit applicants (including municipalities and Indigenous communities) are eligible for 50% – 70% of capital costs and 75% of non-capital costs associated with the project.
  4. The maximum funding available for medium- or long-term projects is $300,000 **
  5. Project funding will be available as a one-time grant that will be issued in instalments to coincide with project progress.
  6. Project funding will be provided to recipients on a repayable or non-repayable basis.
  7. The maximum amount of MMDF non-repayable funding will be determined on a matching basis (MMDF will match funds that are contributed by the recipient but will not exceed this amount).
  8. Terms of repayment and frequency of funding shall be outlined in the contribution agreement.

**The Board may approve funding for projects more than the proposed limits on a case-by-case basis

Eligible Costs

All proposed costs should demonstrate how they are essential to the implementation of the project.

Examples of eligible costs include, but are not limited to:

  1. Professional services for geoscience research and exploration
  2. Consulting services for community engagement
  3. Information management and information technology acquisitions
  4. Legal, administrative, accounting, licensing, permits
  5. Supplies, transportation
  6. Capital improvements/infrastructure costs related to projects
  7. Personnel: salary, travel expenses and benefits
  8. Other costs that are reasonable, incremental and directly attributable to activities necessary to achieve desired results, as specified by the agreement

Ineligible Costs

All costs incurred before the signing of a contribution agreement, unless authorized by MMDF, are not eligible for reimbursement. Costs that are deemed unreasonable, and/or not related to project activities will be ineligible for reimbursement.

Other costs ineligible for financing under MMDF include but are not limited to:

  1. Allowance for interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures, and other debt.
  2. Losses on investments, bad debts and associated expenses, other projects, and contracts
  3. Repayment of existing debts
  4. Amortization or depreciation of assets
  5. Federal and provincial income taxes, GST (recoverable portion)
  6. Employee bonuses
  7. Donations, dues, and membership fees
  8. Entertainment expenses

Access To Funds

  1. Once an application for funding is approved, a contribution agreement will be entered into between the recipient and the MMDF
  2. The agreement sets out terms and conditions for funding in accordance with Treasury Board’s Policy on Transfer Payments
  3. Failure to meet these terms set out in the contribution may result in non-payment and/or reimbursement of payments made

Project Reporting

  1. The contribution agreement will establish guidelines and reporting requirements (both financial and outcome based) for each project.
  2. The recipient shall develop and implement a performance management framework and reporting system to measure the performance of the project, provide progress reports on a regular basis and a performance report summarizing project reach, results achieved, and resources expended.
  3. The recipient shall provide MMDF with a copy of its annual report. 4. Upon request, or as outlined within the contribution agreement, MMDF may conduct an audit on the project.

Download the Program Guidelines Document here.