Co-operative Graduate Hiring Incentive (COG-HI) — Manitoba
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Refundable Manitoba tax credit for employers who hire graduates of registered co-operative education programs into full-time, permanent positions related to their field of study. Employers claim 15% of wages paid in each of the first two full years of employment, up to $2,500 per year per graduate (maximum $5,000 total per graduate). Designed to bridge the co-op-to-career gap by incentivizing Manitoba employers to retain co-op talent after graduation.
Eligibility Requirements
- Employer must be a Manitoba employer (private company, co-operative, Crown Corporation, municipally-owned business, non-profit, unincorporated employer, or tax-exempt entity)
- Provincial and federal government departments are NOT eligible
- Must hire a graduate of a registered co-operative education program
- Graduate must hold a degree, diploma or certificate from a QUALIFYING co-operative education program (approved by Post-Secondary Education and Labour Market Outcomes) — the programme may be located in Manitoba, elsewhere in Canada, or anywhere in the world
- Employment must be permanent and full-time (minimum 35 hours per week)
- Work must be performed primarily in Manitoba
- Work must be closely related to the subject matter of the co-operative education programme completed by the graduate, OR require skills and knowledge acquired in that programme
- Employment must begin within 18 months of the graduate's program completion
- Graduate is limited to two one-year employment periods under this program
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $5,000 per graduate (15% of wages, max $2,500/year × 2 years)
- Type
- Tax Credit
- Level
- Provincial
- Credit rate
- Up to 15% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — claimed on annual corporate income tax return
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to claim COG-HI
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what the program administrators check
How to claim
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipStack COS-HI (student credit during placement) with COG-HI (graduate credit after hiring) to maximize value from one co-op student — claim COS-HI during their work term, then transition to COG-HI if you hire them full-time post-graduation.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 5
Claim timing
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow COG-HI Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-operative Graduate Hiring Incentiv... | Up to $5,000 | Easy | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing — claimed on... |
| Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) | 50% of student wages | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Innovation Growth Program | Up to $100,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Quarterly intakes... |
| West End BIZ Business Development Grant | Up to 50% of costs, to a max of $1,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about COG-HI