If you are a Red River Métis entrepreneur in Manitoba, finding startup or expansion funding can be challenging. The LRCC Business Grant & Loan Program helps by offering both grant funding and commercial loans to eligible businesses. Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC) delivers this program. It supports Métis-owned businesses that want to invest and grow in Manitoba.
The LRCC Business Grant & Loan Program gives you two types of funding with one application. You can receive a grant and a loan. The grant is non-repayable, while the loan must be repaid under commercial terms.
According to current guidelines:
LRCC reviews your project budget and decides how much grant and loan funding you can get. The loan portion has repayment terms set by LRCC.
To qualify for the LRCC Business Grant & Loan Program, both your business and the owners must meet certain rules.
Your business must:
LRCC expects:
Passive owners are not eligible.
The program supports:
Expansion projects may qualify even if they are smaller than $40,000, depending on the project.
LRCC funding covers a specific business project. Common eligible expenses are:
General operating losses and personal expenses do not qualify. For more information, see What expenses are eligible under regional economic development grants?
The LRCC application is more detailed than a simple grant form. You need to prepare financial and ownership documents.
Check your eligibility
Make sure Métis ownership, MMF citizenship, and Manitoba residency are in place.
Prepare your business plan
Your plan should include:
Show your equity contribution
You must prove you have at least 10% cash investment toward the project.
Submit your application to LRCC
LRCC staff review your application and may ask questions.
Approval and funding structure
If approved, LRCC will tell you the grant amount, loan amount, and repayment terms.
To save time, you can use GrantHub’s eligibility matcher to check if this program fits your business. GrantHub also helps you compare other Indigenous and regional funding options.
Assuming all funding is a grant
Only part of the funding is non-repayable. The loan must be repaid.
Missing the equity requirement
Applications without proof of the 10% cash investment may be delayed or declined.
Inactive Métis ownership
LRCC needs active involvement from a principal Métis owner.
Projects that are too small or unclear
Projects below the minimum size or without clear financials may not qualify.
Q: Who can apply for the LRCC Business Grant & Loan Program?
You must own at least 51% of a Manitoba-registered business, have a valid MMF Citizenship Card, and live in Manitoba. At least one Métis owner must be actively involved in daily operations.
Q: How much funding is available?
You can get up to $99,999 in grant funding and up to $250,000 in commercial loans, depending on your project and financials.
Q: Is the LRCC grant repayable?
No. The grant portion is non-repayable. The loan must be repaid under LRCC’s commercial terms.
Q: What is the minimum project size?
Projects are usually $40,000 or more, but expansions of existing businesses may be considered below this amount.
Q: How long does the application take?
Timelines depend on your project and how ready your documents are. Applications with complete business plans and financials move faster.
The LRCC Business Grant & Loan Program is a good option if you are a Red River Métis entrepreneur planning a startup, acquisition, or expansion in Manitoba. GrantHub tracks many grant and loan programs across Canada, including Indigenous and regional funding. This makes it easier to find other programs your business may qualify for alongside LRCC support. You can use GrantHub to set alerts for new funding programs that match your needs.
See also:
Was this article helpful?
Rate it so we can improve our content.
Canada Proactive Disclosure Data
The Canadian government has funded over 400,000 businesses through 1.27 million grants and contributions. Check your eligibility in 60 seconds.