Saskatchewan Lean Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM)
$750,000
Rebate
Description:
The Saskatchewan Lean Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM) program provides funding assistance to agri-businesses for the adoption of best practices, new state-of-the-art technologies and processes stimulating significant improvements in productivity efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions through:
• Automation, efficient manufacturing processes and technologies;
• Investments in sustainable manufacturing with greenhouse gas emissions-reducing equipment and infrastructure; and
• Increased productive capacity by purchasing or upgrading equipment to expand processing to a new product complementary to existing primary inputs.
Comments on Funding:
1. Funding takes the form of rebates of:
– 50% of eligible expenditures for the Efficiency Stream;
– 60% of eligible expenditures for the Emissions Reduction Stream;
– 50% of eligible expenditures for the Expansion Stream.
2. A business analysis completed by third-party contractor: 50% of the eligible costs to a maximum of $20,000 over the lifetime of the Sustainable CAP SLIM program. A business analysis completed internally is not eligible for in-kind rebate.
3. An applicant’s maximum funding cap is determined by assessing the project size against the Tiered Funding Model.
Tiered Funding Model:
– Tier 1: Project size of $50,000 to $1,000,000 -> Maximum funding up to $300,000;
– Tier 2: Project size greater than $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 -> Maximum funding up to $500,000;
– Tier 3: Project size greater than $5,000,000 -> Maximum funding up to $750,000.
October 31, 2027 Continuous Intake
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
1. be agri-businesses, First Nations or Abattoirs involved in value-added processing of Canadian agricultural products that are considered:
a) a commercial enterprise located in Saskatchewan;
b) incorporated federally or in Saskatchewan and have filed income tax in Saskatchewan within the past year;
c) an existing facility in operation undertaking value-added processing for a minimum of two years;
d) demonstrating a minimum of $100,000 gross annual revenue relating to value-added processing. A value-added product is defined as the upgrading of a raw primary agricultural product(s), or further upgrading of a processed product or derivative (includes co-product, by-product) into a new product; and using an identifiable portion of inputs originating from primary agricultural commodities grown or raised in Canada.
2. First Nation businesses may have distinct characteristics reflecting regulatory, operational, cultural and other factors. These programs are designed to allow for flexibility to reduce barriers and ensure accessibility.
3. The following facilities are not eligible for funding:
a) facilities where the retail environment is larger than the processing area;
b) publicly funded facilities; and
c) processors of seafood or fish.
Application Steps:
Applicants must:
1. Contact Programs Branch with the Ministry of Agriculture at agprograms@gov.sk.ca or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 for application details.
2. For technical support or other value-added inquiries, please contact the Ministry of Agriculture Value-Added Unit at agrivalue@gov.sk.ca
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit:
1. a completed claim form,
2. copies of all invoices; and
3. proof of payment (cheque image, bank statement etc.)
Other Things to Note:
Deadlines:
1. The deadline to submit a pre-approval application is on or before October 31, 2027.
2. The deadline to submit a completed business analysis is on or before December 31, 2027. Pre-approval must be received before a business analysis can be undertaken.
3. All approved projects must be fully completed with equipment paid for, installed and operational, and final claim submitted by the earlier of the date in the approval package or on or before March 15, 2028.
About the author
Maurice
