Fusion Credit Union - Community Infusion

Big ideas live on the prairies and we can help bring them to life!

Applications will be accepted from April 1st to June 8th, 2025 at midnight.
Successful applicants will be required to submit a formal business plan by July 28th, 2025.
Finalists will be invited to present their business pitch to a panel of judges at a public event on October 21st, 2025 in Hamiota, MB. The winners will be announced that evening.
All applicants will be required to indicate their business category on the application form.

The Business Categories:

New Business/Business Startup:

This category describes a business that is in the concept/business start-up stage and has not filed business income with CRA to date. In your application, please provide your business inception date. You may be contacted by the committee to discuss your business category.

Purchase or Expansion of an Existing Business:

This category describes a business that is beyond the concept/business start-up stage, has been in operation for a number of years earning revenue, and has filed business income with CRA. This category also includes individuals or companies who are seeking to purchase an existing business that has been in operation for a number of years, earning revenue.

Application

Those interested in applying to Community Infusion will be required to submit an application form.

Eligibility

Community Infusion is open to all residents of Manitoba who are 18 and over and intend to establish, purchase, or expand a business that contributes to economic development in the Fusion Credit Union trading area.

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 June 8th, 2025 application deadline, all applications will be thoroughly reviewed by Fusion Credit Union. Fusion Credit Union will select the applicants to move onto Phase 2 of the competition.

Applicants who move onto Phase 2 of the competition will be required to submit a business plan by July 28th, 2025. Applicants will also be required to undergo a credit check during Phase 2.

The applicants chosen from Phase 2 will then move on to the final phase and will be required to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges on Wednesday, October 21st, 2025 in Hamiota, MB.

Description of Prize

The winner(s) will be eligible to share in up to $30,000 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 business plan.

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 the completed application form together with a 30-60 second elevator pitch video on or before Sunday June 8th, 2025 at midnight.

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 three consecutive events in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Stay tuned for plans regarding Community Infusion 2025!

"Describing my gratitude for the Community Infusion program as immense would be an understatement. The support I've received from this remarkable initiative has empowered Studio 12 to explore new avenues and expand in ways I previously only dreamed of.

The Community Infusion program not only directly benefited my business but also enabled me to bring an organization to life and taught me how to craft my own business plan. I've recommended this program to multiple people and cannot express my gratitude enough for this opportunity. Thank you sincerely."

-Danielle Pilatic, 2023 Community Infusion Winner

The Community Infusion Journey

The journey begins by completing an application form and culminates with entrepreneurs competing for a chance to share in up to $30,000 in financial grants.

Each spring, entrepreneurs are asked to submit an application to Community Infusion for a new business idea or an expanding business idea. The ideal application has a new, innovative and creative business idea that spurs economic development in our local communities.

After the application deadline, our team of judges score the applications based on our chosen criteria. The applications achieving the highest scores are then asked to submit a business plan. After another round of scoring, businesses with the highest score are invited to present their business pitch to a panel of judges. During the final, live event, the contestants will compete for a chance to share in up to $30,000 in grant money. The winners will be announced that evening.

Watch the 2024 Community Infusion Live Event

"To say that I am grateful for the Community Infusion program is a massive understatement. The support I received as a result of this amazing initiative is allowing Fierce to move in directions I have only dreamed of.

From start to finish, the Community Infusion program was well run. I felt supported the entire way and I loved the business planning process! It forced me to really consider what I wanted to do with Fierce and now.....I am bringing my plan to life! Thank you Fusion."

-Amy Doerksen, Fierce Female Hockey