Backgrounder: Saskatchewan businesses receive federal support for innovation and growth

Federal funding of almost $26 million through PrairiesCan will advance new technologies, help grow businesses, and create jobs.

PrairiesCan is investing nearly $26 million to scale-up 11 innovative businesses across Saskatchewan. This funding, through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program and the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) will help Saskatchewan businesses  access the resources needed to expand, revolutionize their operations, and create jobs for Canadians. These enterprises influence many important sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy, including advanced manufacturing, digital technology, agriculture and agri-food production, and health and safety.

PrairiesCan is investing $13,133,033 for eight (8) projects through BSP and $12,800,000 for three (3) projects under JGF.

Business Scale-up and Productivity

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) is a national program designed to prompt economic growth through innovation, create, and maintain well-paying jobs for Canadians. Through REGI’s Business Scale-up and Productivity stream, PrairiesCan supports small and medium-sized enterprises across the Prairies that are scaling up and producing innovative goods, services or technologies. Today, PrairiesCan announced eight BSP recipients receiving funding: 

• Biktrix Enterprises Inc. ($3,500,000)
  Will use the funding to commercialize new e-bike hardware and software.

• Northern Nutrients Ltd. ($3,855,620)
  Will acquire new equipment for specialty fertilizer manufacturing.

• Kasiel Solutions Inc. (operating as SolusGuard and ORA) ($252,500)
  Will use the funding expansion of its lone worker safety solution in North America.

• Northern Quinoa Production Corporation (operating as Norquin) ($276,480)
  Will hire staff and purchase equipment to increase quinoa processing quality and market share.

• Community Compliance Management Technologies Inc. (operating as MyComply) ($948,500)
  Will expand the market for its safety compliance software platform.

• 101265496 Saskatchewan Ltd. (operating as Mother Labs) ($1,799,933)
  Will expand and enhance cannabis-breeding operations in Western Canada.

• Canadian Plasma Resources Corporation and Plasma SK Regina Inc. ($500,000)
  Will expand its blood plasma collections into Regina, accessing new donors, increasing plasma supply and sales, and enhancing profitability through economies of scale.

• C-Merak Industries Inc., C-Merak Grain Ltd., C-Merak Foods Ltd., Cas-Per Farms Inc., and King's Lake Farms Ltd. ($2,000,000)
  Will establish a commercial faba bean fractionation, and oat milling and flaking processing facility in Saskatchewan.

Jobs and Growth Fund

The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides funding to businesses and organizations to build resiliency, enhance competitiveness, create jobs, and position local economies for long-term growth. Three Saskatchewan JGF recipients receiving funding through PrairiesCan announced today include: 

• Coconut Software Corporation ($5,000,000)
  Will expand the market for its on-demand appointment-scheduling platform.

• 102119034 SK Ltd, 102050303 SK Ltd, 624533 BC Ltd, and 671392 BC Ltd (operating as Donald’s Fine Foods) ($5,000,000)
  Will convert a closed beef processing plant into a sow slaughter and processing plant.

• LyteHorse Labs Inc. ($2,800,000)
  Will commence and scale-up production of its electric all terrain utility vehicle.

Related products

• News release: Minister Vandal announces federal funding to help Saskatchewan businesses innovate and grow