Fusion Credit Union - Community Infusion

Community Infusion

How It Works

1. Choose Your Category

Complete the application for one of the following categories:

FAT CAT® : 12 years of age and under

Youth: 13–18 years of age

New Business: A business that is in the concept stage.

Expanding Business: A business that is beyond the concept/business start-up stage, has been in operation for a number of years earning revenue and is wanting to expand operations.

Category specific application forms are tailored to applicant type/age group.

2. Submit Your Idea

Complete the online application outlining your business concept, business goals, economic impact, marketing, competition, risks and financials before September 7th at midnight.

3. Coaching & Team Selection

A panel of 3 experienced coaches from Fusion will review applications and select one participant from each category, forming their mentorship team. Category-specific judging criteria are tailored to applicant type/age group.

4. Mentorship Experience

Selected finalists will:

Work directly with a coach and receive mentorship
Refine their business idea
Prepare for a professional video presentation.

5. Final Video Showcase

Finalists will record a short, high-quality video pitch, (filmed by Fusion) sharing their:

Overall business idea
Short and long term goals
Inspiration behind the business idea
What makes the business idea unique
Community and economic impact
Marketing and promotion plan of the business
How the Community Infusion funding will be used
Community impact

6. Public Voting

Videos will be posted online for public viewing and voting. Public voting is 60% of final score with coaches scoring of application at 40%.

Prizes

Up to $26,000 in total funding will be shared between category winners.

Winning Judge Team Bonus: $3,000 awarded to the team with the strongest overall performance.

Timelines

Application intake dates: July 15 to September 7

Team selection and coaching: September 17 to 21

Video creation: October 1 to November 9

Public voting – November 10 to December 4

Why Participate?

Gain valuable mentorship advice

Build real-world business skills

Increase visibility for your idea

Win funding to grow your business

Contribute to stronger local economies

Ready to bring your idea to life? Choose your application category below and let's get started!

*Past recipients of Community Infusion grant money are ineligible for consideration this year.

®FAT CAT is a registered trade-mark owned by Canadian Credit Union Association, used under license.

Application

Those interested in applying to Community Infusion will be required to submit an application utilizing the applicable application form link.

Eligibility

Community Infusion is open to all residents of Manitoba who intend to establish, purchase, or expand a business that contributes to economic development in the Fusion Credit Union trading area. If the applicant is 18 years of age or older, the applicant may sign the Terms & Conditions Agreement on their own behalf. If the applicant is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must review and sign the Agreement on the applicant’s behalf and consent to the applicant’s participation in the Community Infusion program, including the recording and online publication of the applicant’s video presentation for public viewing and voting.

Past recipients of Community Infusion grant money are ineligible for consideration this year.

Employees of Fusion Credit Union and its subsidiaries are not eligible to apply. PLEASE REVIEW THE TERMS & CONDITONS DOCUMENT FOR FULL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. All applicants must fully review and agree to the terms and conditions of this contest which will be included with the application form.

VIEW THE FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS DOCUMENT BY CLICKING HERE

Procedure

Following the September 7th, 2026 application deadline, all applications will be thoroughly reviewed by Fusion Credit Union. A panel of 3 experienced coaches from Fusion will review applications and select one participant from each category, forming their mentorship team.

Chosen applicants will record a short, high quality pitch video with filming starting October 1, 2026. Videos will be posted online for public voting from November 10 to December 4, 2026.

Description of Prize

The winner(s) will be eligible to share in up to $26,000 of non-repayable grant money to help establish, grow, or purchase their business.

General Rules

To claim a prize, winners must be eligible to open an account with Fusion Credit Union. The disbursement of funds will be at the discretion of Fusion Credit Union and may include conditions associated with a contestant's application.

To become a member with Fusion Credit Union, visit one of our branches, or use our online application platform.

All applicants must fully review and agree to the terms and conditions of this contest which will be included with the application form.

How to Enter

To enter Community Infusion, applicants must submit a completed application form before Monday, September 7th, 2026 at midnight.

FAT CAT Application Form

Youth Application Form

New Business Application Form

Expanding Business Application Form

From Inception to the Final Stage...

Community Infusion stems from the belief that economic development is the foundation behind thriving communities.

In the Spring of 2021, employees were asked to identity ways for Fusion to contribute to economic development in our communities. From this session, the idea of a business pitch competition was developed and, after assembling a project team, the concept took flight. The inaugural Community Infusion live event took place in December 2021, followed by four consecutive events in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Stay tuned for plans regarding Community Infusion 2026!

"Being selected as the 2025 Community Infusion grant recipient has been an honour and has resulted in positive changes and growth for Silver Frame Photo & Video Memories. This Infusion support has already allowed me to invest in an upgraded digitizing station, specialized equipment, more computers, marketing initiatives and professional training in just a few short months. What I didn't fully anticipate was the ripple effect beyond funding. The exposure from Community Infusion introduced my services to new customers and communities in our region, and encouragement from existing clients that have been so supportive.

I'm very grateful to Fusion Credit Union for investing not only in my business, but in the preservation of the memories that matter to so many families and organizations in our communities."

-Sasha Golding, Silver Frame Photo & Video Memories

"Receiving the Community Infusion Grant has allowed us to keep moving forward with our vision. As a small business dedicated to health, wellness and community connection, the grant provided financial assistance and encouragement at a critical time in our growth. The funding helped us navigate the challenges of construction and development, ensuring that we could continue creating a welcoming space for new businesses and all its members."

-Kaycelyn Rosales-Knight, 2024 Community Infusion Winner