The Manitoba government is investing $120 million in a major post-secondary project aimed at boosting agriculture training and job creation in the province’s Westman region.
Premier Wab Kinew announced Thursday the province will provide $60 million in capital funding and an additional $60 million in bridge financing to support construction of the Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture at Assiniboine Community College’s North Hill Campus in Brandon.
“Manitoba’s agriculture sector is critical to our province’s economy and to staying resilient against Trump’s tariffs,” said Kinew. “The Prairie Innovation Centre will house new and expanded training, so Manitobans can learn the skills they need to get good, in-demand ag jobs here in Westman and across the province.”
Of the capital funding, $40 million will go toward construction of the innovation centre and $20 million will support the development of a new 216-seat child-care facility within the project.
The province has also approved bridge financing to allow work to begin immediately.
Assiniboine College president Mark Frison said the commitment allows the project to move forward without delay.
“We are pleased the province is providing the financing for the Prairie Innovation Centre,” said Frison. “It is an important project that will help to improve value-added processing and export development capacity in the agriculture sector.”
Frison said the college will continue working with the province to secure federal support for the project.
The new centre is expected to add hundreds of training seats in agriculture and related industries, expanding the region’s capacity to meet growing labour demands. It will also serve as a hub for research and collaboration with industry partners.
In addition to long-term workforce development, Kinew said the centre’s construction is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.
