Yes! Winnipeg gets $775,000 boost from Manitoba government

The Manitoba government has injected$775,000 into Yes! Winnipeg,a pro-business agency that aims to use the money tobring 4,500 new jobs to the city in the next five years.

"The hard work that Yes! Winnipeg puts into attracting new business to our city each year is a great example of how muchWinnipeggersbelieve in each other and want to help each other succeed," Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief said Thursday.

"More people than ever are visiting or making Winnipeg their home and it's thanks in large part to the work Yes! Winnipeg does to make our city a world-class destination and a great place to raise our families."

Anarm ofEconomic Development Winnipeg (EDW), Yes! Winnipeg works to attract new companies to the city, assistentrepreneurs in bringing ideas to life and helpexisting businesses expand.

"In all its forms, economic development is a shared pursuit that requires the active involvement of multiple stakeholders to maximize results," Marina James, EDW president and CEO, stated in a press release.

"The province's recognition that Yes! Winnipeg plays a vital, complementary role in growing our city's business base is greatly appreciated."

Yes! Winnipeg will receive $135,000 per year over the next five years, providing it secures a minimum of $800,000 per year in private-sector support, Chief said.

"An increasingly competitive environment exists when it comes to securing investment from the international business community," said Vince Barletta, Yes! Winnipeg's leader.

"The advantage of a dedicated business development team working proactively to champion Winnipeg's unique value has proven very effective to date, and we're pleased the government of Manitoba will continue to support this valuable initiative."

Yes! Winnipeg was first launched in 2008 as Selling Winnipeg to the World, an initiative of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerceaimed at stimulating business growth.In May 2010, it transitioned to Economic Development Winnipeg and wasrebranded as Yes! Winnipeg.

As of June 2015, Yes! Winnipeg had been involved inmore than 60 operation expansions in Winnipeg. At their peak, theyare projected to create more than 3,500 jobs and generate an investment of $480 million, according to Barletta.

Some of the companies assisted by Yes! Winnipeg include Buhler Industries, Canadian Tire Corporation, Complex Games, Cargill Canada, Price Industries, Canadian Western Bank and Cara Operations (Swiss Chalet restaurants).