October 21, 2021
Province Announces Successful Innovation Growth Program Projects
– – –$568,000 Investments to Enable Small Businesses to Reduce Risk, Develop Innovative Products and Accelerate Growth: Reyes
The Manitoba government is investing more than $568,000 in small and medium-sized businesses through the Innovation Growth Program (IGP) to support the development and commercialization of new, innovative products and services, Economic Development and Jobs Minister Jon Reyes announced today.
“Some small businesses need help developing and commercializing new and innovative products and processes, and we provide cost-sharing support through the Innovation Growth Program,” said Reyes. “Our government’s investment will help these Manitoba-based companies build their businesses by reducing their risk associated with developing innovative products, accelerating their growth and strengthening their financial position to secure future funding.”
The program launched in June 2019 and provides up to $100,000 in 50-50 cost-shared, non-repayable financial assistance. The latest recipients of the IGP include:
- Hoot Reading, Winnipeg: $100,000 to scale up its online tutoring platform that provides children with live, one-on-one reading lessons with experienced classroom teachers;
- Tactile Robotics, Winnipeg: $83,000 to develop a leading-edge robotic platform that enhances traditional teaching and learning methods in dentistry;
- NextGen Environmental Research, Winnipeg: $10,900 to market its software that provides information in near real-time, on ice conditions for those who work or travel on frozen lakes;
- Carbon Lock Technologies, Winnipeg: $75,000 to help design, build and scale-up its carbonization technologies to be piloted at two Manitoba locations to help municipalities better manage the methane gas generated at their landfills;
- OmniLyte Enviro, Wawanesa: $100,000 to obtain certification in Canada and the United States for a new process of manufacturing hypochlorous acid (anolyte) for use as a safe and effective commercial disinfectant;
- Innovative Heating Technologies, Oak Bluff: $100,000 to fund the development of a high-load bearing, low-profile electric heat mat, designed for commercial use in agricultural, oil field, greenhouse and pet care settings; and
- ioAirFlow, Winnipeg: $100,000 to fund the commercialization and marketing of a new, non-permanent wireless air-quality data collection and monitoring platform for commercial buildings.
“This investment will help us advance our online tutoring platform so that we can continue to impact child literacy development in a meaningful way,” said Maya Kotecha, co-founder and co-CEO of Hoot Reading Inc. “The funds will also enable us to add to our team in our Manitoba office and expand our reach to help more children not only become proficient readers, but also boost their confidence and their love of learning.”
To date, the province’s total investment of up to $1.9 million for 27 small and medium-size businesses is projected to create more than 900 jobs within five years, Reyes noted, adding the program is a key element of Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan.
The minister also noted small businesses are encouraged to apply for the current intake by Dec. 15.
More information about the IGP is available at:
www.gov.mb.ca/jec/busdev/financial/igp/index.html.
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