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As a business owner, your employees are your greatest assets. When you invest in the professional development of your team, you are investing in the future success of your business. The Province of Manitoba wants to support the sustainable growth of active Manitoba businesses and has partnered with Economic Development Winnipeg and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to distribute $12.5 Million in funding to reimburse employers that have encouraged the professional growth of their staff through continued education and training opportunities.

Employers encouraging professional growth.

Retrain Manitoba will reimburse Manitoba businesses for the investments they have made in their employees’ professional progress through a variety of interdisciplinary training programs offered by accredited third-party institutions with reimbursements of up to $2,500 per employee, to a cumulative maximum of $75,000. Retrain Manitoba can help offset the costs of onboarding or advancing the skills of new employees through YES! Winnipeg’s Job Connection network, so businesses can benefit from the cutting-edge expertise and novel perspectives of job-seeking professionals in their fields.

$12.5 Million

in funding to employers for professional growth of staff

What is Retrain Manitoba?

Reimbursement under the Retrain Manitoba initiative covers an expansive range of in-person and online skill development courses offered by accredited third-party organizations based in Manitoba and beyond. To support employers’ research efforts, YES! Winnipeg has compiled a starting list of institutions that offer professional development opportunities. These are industry-leading educational institutions specializing in a diversity of disciplines, from business, to retail, to trades and transportation. If you’ve identified a gap in your team’s current level of expertise, or if your operations could use an upgrade but you’re unsure how to utilize the latest technology in your industry, register for Retrain Manitoba to revolutionize your business.

Retrain Manitoba will reimburse active Manitoba businesses for up to $2,500 in costs associated with the continued education and professional development of each of their employees. In addition, funds can be used to offset the costs of onboarding new talent acquired through the YES! Winnipeg’s Job Connection network. Employers are encouraged to research and secure suitable training for their employees, with the knowledge that Retrain Manitoba can help offset some or all of those costs through reimbursing their initial investments. Retrain Manitoba is not a cash advance program, and only reimburses education and training investments that have been paid for previously.

Who can apply for Retrain Manitoba?

  • All active and permanent Manitoba-based registered businesses with a Manitoba Business Number.
  • Must be in good standing with the Manitoba Companies Office at the time of application.
  • Businesses of all sizes are eligible, and reimbursements may be distributed to an unlimited number of employees.
  • There is a maximum reimbursement cap at $75,000 per business.

The application process is simple and straightforward, with no strings attached. Once your application has been approved, funds will be distributed within one week via direct deposit. Retrain Manitoba understands that businesses have enough obstacles to overcome, so this program has been designed to make funding easily accessible.

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What you need
to know:

  • Retrain Manitoba will distribute grants promoting the upskilling of Manitoba’s workforce until March 31, 2022, or until the program budget has been expended.
  • Investments made by employers between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 are considered eligible for reimbursement.
  • Reimbursements will only be considered for skill development courses that have been previously paid for by employers. It is not a cash advance program, and submission of paid course receipts is required.
  • There is a maximum cumulative reimbursement totalling $2,500 for skill-building initiatives, per employee.
  • There is a maximum reimbursement cap at $75,000 per business.
  • Reimbursements will be distributed within one week of approval by direct deposit.
  • For more details and Frequently Asked Questions, see the Eligibility Criteria guide.
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Still have questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

If your employees aren't growing, neither is your business

To help you get started, review this catalogue of public and private institutions offering training and educational courses in industries spanning commerce, trades, transportation and more. Please note that this curated list is not meant to be an exhaustive resource. Any course that is provided by an accredited, third-party institution is eligible for Retrain Manitoba funding.

Retrain Manitoba’s goal is to support the growth of local businesses from the ground up. Why? Because when local businesses grow, local communities thrive. By investing in your workforce, you’re investing in the future success of Manitoba.

logo - Retrain Manitoba: Rethink. Rework. Retrain.

“We are delighted that the Retrain Manitoba funding has allowed us to partner with an internationally renowned company to deliver a world-class sales and leadership training program to all our staff members.”

Kelly Melchor, Executive Director

Winnipeg Insurance Brokers Ltd.

“My small business has benefitted from the Retrain Manitoba program, by creating opportunities for all staff to upgrade skills, knowledge and certifications. It was nice to have the financial support to invest in my employees.”

Darcy Granove, Principal Landscape Architect and Owner

Little Bluestem Landscape Architecture

“We have engaged with grant applications and co-op programs before, and this is the most streamlined process that we have encountered in both application and funding reimbursement.”

Dana Bergman

Friesens Corporation