Province Selects Nine Businesses For Innovation Growth Program

Jul 14, 2020

The Manitoba government has selected nine businesses to receive more than $750,000 through the Innovation Growth Program (IGP), an investment designed to help them develop and commercialize new, innovative products and services.

“The Innovation Growth Program provides support to businesses that are pursuing innovation and new opportunities, building on Manitoba’s many economic strengths,” said Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler. “Investments in these nine companies will also significantly expand their workforces and help grow Manitoba’s economy over the long term.”

The second round of recipients of the Innovation Growth Program include:

- All-Net Municipal Solutions;

- Aurora Aerial Inc.;

- Callia Flowers;

- Cerebra Health;

- Elmer’s Manufacturing Ltd.;

- Evotrux Inc.;

- Micro Traffic Inc.;

- Prairie Grain Analyzers; and

- Red River Press.

“At Elmer’s, we maintain an explicit focus on innovation,” said Wendy Dyck, controller for Elmer’s Manufacturing. “It is this spirit that wins us praise and enables us to gain market share on the international stage. With the assistance from the IGP, we will be able to improve time to market of our new grain cart design concept to commercialization in order to meet the needs of new customers.”

Eichler noted these companies are forecasting the addition of more than 260 new full-time jobs and $90 million of export sales over the next five years. Manitoba’s Innovation Growth Program is cost-shared with recipients, with Manitoba providing up to 50 per cent of total project costs.

The Innovation Growth Program was launched in June 2019.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.