Winnipeg Heritage and Economic Development TIF Program
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A tax increment financing program that returns 80% of the incremental municipal property taxes generated by a new development back to the developer as annual payments for up to 10 years, capped at $2 million per project. The Economic Development stream requires a minimum $10 million non-governmental capital investment, creation of at least 10 new full-time jobs, and financial support from another level of government. Not accessible for typical small businesses.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be located in Winnipeg
- Must be undertaking a development project with a minimum $10 million non-governmental capital investment
- Must create at least 10 new full-time jobs as a result of the project
- Must have confirmed financial support from another level of government
- Program returns 80% of incremental municipal property taxes for up to 10 years (up to $2M cap)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2,000,000 per project (80% of incremental municipal taxes for up to 10 years; minimum $10M capital investment required)
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Municipal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe Economic Development stream has strict co-funding requirements — you must already have another level of government financially committed to the project before applying. Engage CentreVenture Development Corporation (Winnipeg's downtown development authority) early: they are a key liaison for HEDI applications and can accelerate the City's review. Do not start construction before receiving Conditional Approval — doing so automatically disqualifies the project.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Capital investment below $10 million (Economic Development stream)
- Fewer than 10 new full-time jobs created
- No other government financial support secured
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Success Profile
Large-scale developers or corporations planning commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments in Winnipeg with confirmed $10M+ capital investment and a credible plan to create 10+ permanent FT jobs. Must already have other government funding committed. Heritage building restoration projects have a lower capital threshold ($500K) and may be more accessible to smaller developers.
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Evaluation Criteria
Applications scored on: economic viability necessity (would project not proceed without TIF?), alignment with OurWinnipeg 2045 and Complete Communities 2.0, multi-level government endorsement, property assessment base expansion, adjacent property value impacts, and job creation quality (10+ ongoing FT jobs for Economic Development stream).
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 6
- New commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development construction
- Heritage building restoration and rehabilitation (Historic Resources By-law compliance)
- Downtown surface parking lot redevelopment into new construction
- Multi-family residential development (minimum 5 units, downtown only)
- Professional fees directly related to eligible development (architecture, engineering)
- Construction costs for developments creating 10+ new full-time jobs
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Projects that have started construction before Conditional Approval Letter is received
- Developments in the SHED TIF Zone (separate program applies)
- Single-family dwelling heritage projects
- Greenfield Supply Area projects (outside Intensification Target Areas)
- Operating costs, staffing, marketing, or working capital
- Projects without other government financial support (co-funding is mandatory for Economic Development stream)
Intake Periods
Rolling — applications accepted year-round until the $20M program budget is exhausted ($10M downtown, $10M outside downtown). No annual intake windows.
Deadline Notes
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the $20M program budget is exhausted ($10M downtown, $10M outside downtown). As of early 2026, the program page remains active with no closure notice. Note: the Affordable Housing Now TIF stream (a separate program) closed Feb 10, 2025 — do not conflate.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Developers who have already started construction before Conditional Approval
- Projects in the SHED TIF Zone (separate Centreventure program)
- Projects in Greenfield Supply Areas
- Businesses unable to demonstrate $10M+ non-governmental capital investment (Economic Development stream)
- Heritage projects involving single-family dwellings
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High Riskhigh — If the developer fails to maintain the required 10+ full-time jobs for the grant duration, or if the development does not proceed to occupancy, the City may terminate the grant agreement. Annual payments stop if compliance obligations are not met. Clawback of previously paid TIF amounts is possible for material agreement breaches.
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How Winnipeg Heritage and Econo... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg Heritage and Economic Develo... | Up to $2,000,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Ongoing |
| PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... | Varies | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Canada-Manitoba Job Grant | Up to 75% of costs | Easy | 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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