ESTEVAN — The Municipal Coal Transition Assistance Program (MCTAP), an initiative developed by the province of Saskatchewan to aid communities in transitioning from coal-based industries to alternative economic opportunities, is calling for southeast businesses to apply for financial help.
Facilitated by the Southeast Sask Economic Partnership Inc. (SSEP) in conjunction with the City of Estevan, the program has provided beneficial financial support to several companies and organizations within the RM of Estevan, Town of Bienfait, RM of Coalfields and the City of Estevan.
Introduced in 2021, the program has been instrumental in fostering growth and innovation in the southeast region. Tim Keating, managing director of the SSEP, said in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday that so far, the MCTAP has helped create about 60 jobs in the region. There is also the possibility for 10 more jobs through approved projects currently in the works, and there is still funding for more.
"The program has been very successful," Keating said. "There could be, I'm just estimating, at minimum another 20 to 30 [new jobs created with the help from MCTAP], based on the past performance of the program. … It could be higher, it could be lower."
Entrepreneurs in the area to apply, Keating said.
"The program itself is really about job creation. So, any entrepreneurs or businesses that are looking at expanding their business operations [can apply]. Maybe they're interested in purchasing equipment for opportunity, maybe they're interested in doing market research, or feasibility work, or a business plan to expand their business, or they are starting a business; those are examples that might qualify. The program itself is about job creation. So, that's how the committee would look at it; they look at it through the lens of job creation. So, if there are jobs created in the area, that would be one of the main criteria," Keating explained.
According to the program description, projects must contribute to the economic development of the region in at least one of the following ways:
-Identify, assess (feasibility studies), and advance economic development, job creation opportunities and diversification opportunities;
-Improve business conditions to enable long-term economic growth (asset mapping, industrial site improvement, infrastructure, and investment attraction); and
-Strengthen existing and support new approaches to improve local economic conditions (inter-municipal co-operation, partnerships, marketing-rebranding, alternate service delivery).
Keating said one of their successful applicants was the Bienfait bakery that opened in 2023, creating three jobs. They received financial support for equipment purchase. The MCTAP also provided funding for the JS TruckMart's expansion, which also created jobs.
The program is designed to attract investment and advance economic development and diversification opportunities in the area.
Applications are reviewed by the Municipal Coal Transition Committee, which is comprised of representatives from the City of Estevan, R.M. of Estevan, R.M. of Coalfields and the Town of Bienfait, and decisions are made by local representatives.
"The province allocated $8 million to the City of Estevan, the RM of Estevan, the RM of Coalfields and the town of Beinfait. And that pot of money has been managed by a committee appointed, basically a committee of those four members. … The Municipal Coal Transition Committee looks at applications on a monthly basis and they make decisions as a group," Keating explained.
"Decisions are made by representatives from each municipality on the committee. The decisions are not made outside of the area; decisions are made by local people, by volunteers."
The program will fund up to 25 per cent of the applicant's eligible project capital costs and up to 80 per cent of eligible non-capital costs, to a maximum of $200,000.
"We ask that applicants put some of their resources into the application. So, it's not 100 per cent funding. Applicants need to have some skin in the game, as we like to call it, or some investment. That helps to show that they're serious about it and also that they have some ability to carry out the project," Keating said.
The MCTAP continues to serve as a resource for businesses and organizations in southeast Saskatchewan, fuelling economic growth, job creation and community development. Applications are open for organizations within the SSEP region and will remain available until March 31, 2025. Keating noted that applications are reviewed as they come in with no specific deadlines.
"Anyone interested in the program can apply on an as-needed basis," Keating said. "There are funds still left in the program, so if anyone wants to make an application, they certainly can. We take intakes every month until the program is out of funding."
For more information about the program and eligibility criteria, visit www.ssep.ca.
If people are interested in applying for the MCTAP, they can get ahold of Keating through email at info@ssep.ca or they can call 306-634-2224.
