Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF)

Insider Tip

Talk to MMDF staff before you file — the published process has them determine which application form is appropriate and review a draft with feedback before it goes to the Application Review Committee, which is an unusually open door for a competitive fund. Two rules quietly shape the economics. First, this is not necessarily a grant: funding is provided on a repayable OR non-repayable basis, and the non-repayable portion is capped at whatever you contribute yourself, so the more of your own money you put in, the more of MMDF's money you keep. Second, nothing you spend before the contribution agreement is signed is reimbursable unless MMDF authorised it in advance — approval is not the trigger, signature is. Because you get only one application per calendar year, put it behind your strongest project rather than testing the fund with a small one. Note the two routes in: a project does not have to be in the north if it relates to or supports the mineral development industry, and it does not have to be a mining project if it is north of the 53rd parallel and serves MMDF's objectives.

Rejection Pitfalls 9

• Project falls outside Manitoba, or is neither north of the 53rd parallel nor related to or supportive of the mineral development industry
• Weak alignment with MMDF's four objectives
• No tangible or measurable economic benefit within an identifiable time frame

Success Profile

Manitoba businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and non-profits with a mineral-development or northern economic development project that can point to concrete employment or income outcomes. The fund is built around four objectives — more mineral exploration and development, a stronger mining supply chain, economic reconciliation through Indigenous partnership, and support for mining communities hit by closures, downsizing or new development — so the strongest applications name which objective they serve and evidence local community involvement in both planning and implementation. Applicants who can co-fund meaningfully do best, since the non-repayable portion is matched to their own contribution.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed on overall alignment with MMDF's objectives and on the project's potential outcomes, location, feasibility and viability, using five published criteria. (1) Alignment with MMDF's objectives — how well the project serves one or more of them. (2) Project outcomes and impact — what tangible or measurable outcomes result, the short and long-term benefits, and the extent to which activities are incremental, such as investment in new technology or mobilization of additional equipment or staff. (3) Project feasibility — what human and financial resources are available, what historic results the project demonstrates, and whether the work plan, budget, location, project team, financial commitment and capacity, and ability to meet regulatory requirements are reasonable. (4) Collaboration and partnerships — local support and involvement of the local community in planning and implementation, and opportunities for partnership with local communities. (5) Long-term viability — whether the project will be viable long term and to what extent it would require ongoing financial support from MMDF. MMDF staff review a draft application and give feedback first; the Application Review Committee then reviews and recommends, and the Board gives final approval.

Application Steps

Required Documents 9

Eligible Expenses 8

• Professional services for geoscience research and exploration
• Consulting services for community engagement
• Information management and information technology acquisitions
• Legal, administrative, accounting, licensing and permit costs
• Supplies and transportation
• Capital improvements and infrastructure costs related to the project
• Personnel — salary, travel expenses and benefits
• Other costs that are reasonable, incremental and directly attributable to activities necessary to achieve the desired results, as specified by the agreement

Ineligible Expenses 10

• All costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed, unless authorized by MMDF
• Costs deemed unreasonable or not related to project activities
• Interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures and other debt
• Losses on investments, bad debts and associated expenses, other projects and contracts
• Repayment of existing debts
• Amortization or depreciation of assets
• Federal and provincial income taxes, and the recoverable portion of GST
• Employee bonuses
• Donations, dues and membership fees
• Entertainment expenses

Intake Periods

Periodic intakes rather than continuous rolling submission. The current intake runs July 20 to August 21, 2026. Applications open and are reviewed the following month, with the Application Review Committee reviewing on a bimonthly basis. Applicants may apply for a maximum of one project per calendar year.

Deadline Notes

MMDF runs periodic intakes rather than a continuous rolling window. The current intake for applications runs July 20 to August 21, 2026, per MMDF's How It Works page. Applications open and are reviewed the following month, with the Application Review Committee meeting on a bimonthly basis, so missing a window means waiting for the next one rather than losing the year. Expect a decision 12 to 14 weeks after submission. Two constraints worth planning around: an applicant may apply for only one project per calendar year, and costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed are not eligible for reimbursement unless MMDF has authorised them — so do not start spending on the strength of an approval letter alone.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Organizations whose project is located outside the Province of Manitoba
• Applicants whose project is neither north of the 53rd parallel nor related to or supportive of the mineral development industry
• Applicants that have already applied for a project in the same calendar year
• Incorporated organizations not incorporated or registered under The Corporations Act to conduct business in Manitoba

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

MMDF states plainly that failure to meet the terms set out in the contribution agreement "may result in non-payment and/or reimbursement of payments made" — recovery of money already received is an explicit remedy, not a theoretical one. Instalments are tied to project performance, so underperformance can stop payment mid-project. MMDF may also audit the project on request or as provided in the agreement. Separately, some or all of the funding may be structured as repayable from the outset, with repayment terms set in the contribution agreement, so read that split carefully before signing.