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Program Overview

Please note, the program will be re-launching in Fall 2022. Check back soon for important updates to program guidelines and application intake deadlines.

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 up to $2M for projects undertaken by municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit or for-profit organizations that align with the Fund’s objectives.

Project Goals/Outcomes

The evaluation of project outcomes is an important component of the transparent management of MMDF. The below section provides a framework for evaluating short- and long-term outcomes for our approved projects.

TIMELINES PERFORMANCE MEASURE
Short Term
  1. New community job opportunities.
  2. Improved relationships between communities.
  3. Increased communication between the mining and mineral development industry and Indigenous communities.
  1. Number of short-term employment opportunities (Number of people bridged from EI to short term employment
  2. Number of facilitated conversations, consultations, and opportunities for engagement
Medium Term
  1. Improved accessibility to education and skilled training.
  2. Increased local interest in education or employment in the mining industry.
  3. Increased local enterprise opportunities and investment.
  4. Improved self-sufficiency and security in local employment.
  5. Established or improved long-term relationships with Indigenous communities.
  1. Number of training programs established/the capacity of each program
  2. Amount of local interest in mining training and education opportunities
  3. Community interest and perceptions surrounding new projects/projects and # of projects that are undertaken by local enterprises
Long Term
  1. Sustainable employment (good-paying, long-term jobs).
  2. Diversified regional economies.
  3. Increased local capacity to take on and carry out meaningful projects in the mining sector.
  4. Increased sustainable revenues and investment in the region.
  1. Number of long-term employment opportunities, jobs satisfaction of new employees, average salary of long-term jobs
  2. Number of projects in different sectors & number of local projects initiated
  3. Investment dollars in new or expanded enterprise in the region

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
Community Need
  • % population decline
  • Unemployment rates
  • Decrease in average household income(s)
  • Labor force/market characteristics
Economic Impact
  • Number of jobs created or maintained
  • Distribution of benefits in the community
  • Long-term income opportunities for the community
  • Long-term revenues generated for governments
  • Sustainability within the mining sector
  • Degree of diversification
Collaboration and partnerships
  • Number of partnerships created
  • Strategic nature of partnerships
  • Opportunities for long term collaboration
Local involvement/ community support
  • Degree of local support
  • Degree of involvement of local community in project implementation
Sustainability beyond the project timelines
  • Ability of project to extend or scale up to create lasting economic opportunities
Project Feasibility/Viability
  • Project work plan
  • Project budget (including reasonable and eligible project costs)
  • Management capability
  • Financial commitment and capacity
  • Regulatory capability

MINERAL EXPLORATION PROJECT CRITERIA

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION
Location
  • Location in proximity to key infrastructure
  • Context of site and proximity to surrounding community
Local procurement
  • Evidence that supplies, rentals, accommodations for the project will be sourced locally
Local employment
  • Number of local short-term employment opportunities created
Opportunities for community engagement or partnerships
  • Degree of initial consultations or engagement with the community
  • Opportunities for future community partnerships
Historic Results
  • Evidence of historic exploration expenditures for the site
  • Technical results for the site
Incremental Activities
  • Evidence that the proposed project activities are incremental in nature (e.g., investment in new technology, mobin of additional equipment or staff, etc.)

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. MMDF will provide grants for projects of up to 10% of the Fund annually. This amounts to approximately $2M per year.
  2. The maximum level of funding for projects under MMDF for a for-profit organization is 50% for capital costs and 75% of non-capital costs.
  3. The maximum funding available for short term projects is $50,000
  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, or, on an ongoing basis.
  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.