You are eligible to apply for this grant if you are a Manitoba business and meet all of the following criteria:

• A permanent, full-time Manitoba home-based business physically operating in the Province of Manitoba; 
• have been impacted by Manitoba COVID-19 prevention orders in effect as of November 12, 2020, or any revisions to those orders;
• if the business was launched prior to January 1, 2020 - must have filed a 2019 tax return;
• businesses launched in 2020 must have a record of their monthly sales;
• actively operating or conducting business on November 9, 2020; 
• operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation;   
• possess an active and valid Business Number;
• be in good standing with the Manitoba Companies Office (not required for sole proprietors);
• direct Services Worker (CLDS, ICOF, CFS, FVPP and SHELTERS Only);
• community Living disABILITY Services (CLDS) shift-staffed group home,  24/7 cluster living arrangement, and In the Company of Friends  - Innovative Life Options;
• have an e-mail address and a valid business bank account with a Canadian financial institution.

• Applications must be submitted on or before December 31, 2020.*

*The application deadline is subject to change as determined by the Manitoba government

All home-based businesses impacted by Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders in effect as of November 12, 2020 are eligible, except for:

• Businesses that are not home-based businesses;
• businesses that were not impacted by COVID-19 Manitoba Prevention Orders;
• the following businesses are not eligible:
• agriculture or farming industries;
• real estate agents;
• self-employed sales persons or commissioned-based sales;
• health professionals;
• lawyers, paralegal, accountant, translator, veterinarian, engineer or geoscientist;
• businesses operating under a regulatory body of a profession;
• businesses that deals in securities or manages financial portfolios or that provides financial services;
• businesses that do not exist for the purpose of carrying on an active business in Manitoba; - passive businesses are not eligible*;
• businesses that conduct multilevel marketing.

*Passive income is income that is derived from the ownership of capital property or assets that generate income without excessive effort on the part of the stakeholder. Examples of passive income include rental revenue, dividends, royalties etc.

• Businesses that were in arrears for taxes owing to Manitoba on March 20, 2020 (i.e., before the first state of emergency), and that have not since rectified the amount in arrears (note: this does not include businesses that have deferred tax remittances incurred between April and September 2020);
• Businesses that have applied to the Manitoba Business Grant Stream A

No, your business does not automatically qualify for the Manitoba Bridge Grant - Stream B. You will need to submit a new application and meet all the eligibility requirements of the Manitoba Bridge Program to receive funding. 

Recipients of the Manitoba Bridge Grant are not eligible for the Stream B - Home-Based Business support. If you mistakenly applied and received funding through the Manitoba Bridge Grant, please email the program administrators with your inquiry and Application Confirmation Number. Contact information is contained in your Approval email.

• The payment will be calculated at 10 per cent of your 2019 business income.
• For businesses that have completed a partial year in 2019, the 2019 income will be annualized.  The benefit will be equal to 10 per cent of annualized income, to a maximum contribution of $5,000.
• For business that have launched in 2020 - the gross income generated from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020 will be annualized.  The benefit will be equal to 10 per cent of annualized income, to a maximum contribution of $5,000 and will be based on adjudication and determination by the Administration Office.
• The program may request your income tax returns to further determine eligibility and validation of the information provided.
• The funds will be electronically deposited into the business bank account, with a confirmation email from the program. 

 

The Manitoba Bridge Grant - Stream B may be extended beyond January 1, 2021, and provide an additional benefit to eligible businesses should these prevention orders remain in place. If this occurs, the province would automatically process the second payment at that time with no further actions required from applicants.

No, as long as you meet all the eligibility criteria, you will not have to pay back the Manitoba Bridge Grant funds. However, it should be noted that Manitoba Bridge Grant contributions are taxable income.

Your benefit will be based on your 2019 eligible gross business income. 

For businesses launched after January 1, 2020 - the benefit will be calculated on the annualized eligible gross business income generated from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020.

You may apply directly to the program via the online application beginning December 9th, 2020.

To apply you will need to have the following information ready:

• your Business Number, and if applicable, your Companies Office Registry Number, your Workers Compensation Board and Retail Sales Tax account numbers;
• the applicant and one other partner’s Social Insurance Number if the business is operated by a sole proprietor or partnership; 
• proof of eligible business income.  For sole proprietors or partnerships that operated in 2019, an image (.jpg or jpeg) of page 2 of the Statement of Business and Investment Income T2125 from their 2019 Income Tax Return, showing line 8299. For corporations that operated in 2019, an image (.jpg or jpeg) of page 1 of Schedule 125 - Income Statement Information from their 2019 Income Tax Return. For businesses started in 2020 - proof of income generated from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020  (e.g. image (.jpg or .jpeg) of trial balance or sales ledgers);
• the business bank account information and a void cheque/direct deposit form. 

If approved, your payment will be electronically deposited into your bank account within ten business days.

No, only one grant is permitted per Business Number. If your business partner has applied and received confirmation of the application was accepted, you would not be eligible to apply twice.

The Manitoba Bridge Grant is taxable income.

You will receive a confirmation number once the application is submitted. Please keep this number for future correspondence. 

A confirmation email will only be sent after the application has been reviewed.  

By applying for the Manitoba Bridge Grant, and accepting the deposited funds, you agree to the following: 

The Manitoba Government is authorized to collect personal information  by section 36(1)(b) of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act(FIPPA). The information will be used to: 

• process this application for the Manitoba Bridge Grant Program financial support;
• determine and verify eligibility for financial support;
• for research, planning and reporting purposes; and
• to administer and evaluate the Program with other provincial departments.

You also consent to and authorize the disclosure and release by any person, individual, corporation, organization, or by any government or government agency (including but not restricted to any federal or provincial government department or crown corporation), of any information or documents (including, but not limited to, any personal information as defined in The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or The Income Act [Canada] or The Income Tax Act [Manitoba] or The Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act) requested by the Province of Manitoba for any purpose respecting the administration of the Manitoba Bridge Grant Program for your benefit by the Manitoba Department of Finance or its successors. 

You consent to the Manitoba Minister of Finance or his/her designate(s) to release to government or government agency (federal, provincial/territorial or municipal government department or crown corporation), any information or documents (including, but not limited to, any personal information as defined in The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or the Income Tax Act [Canada] or The Income Tax Act [Manitoba] or The Tax Administration And Miscellaneous Taxes Act) for any purpose respecting the administration of the Manitoba Bridge Grant Program. 

You further consent to authorize Canada Revenue Agency to provide the Manitoba Government Department of Finance with any information from any Income Tax Returns of the applicant corporation or other relevant documents that Canada Revenue Agency possesses. The information so provided will be used to verify the content of this application and will not be used or communicated for any other purpose.