August 21, 2013
Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan Committed to Improving Communities: Lemieux
– – –NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre to Create Winnipeg's First Community Food Centre to Help Families
The NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre will now be able to provide even more services to members of the community and create Winnipeg’s first community food centre thanks to the new Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program, Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.
“The new food centre is a welcome addition to NorWest Co-op Community Health, which provides a wide range of health-related services including medical care, counselling, education and community outreach, said Lemieux. “Renewing, upgrading and improving our community infrastructure helps create jobs and grows our economy. It is a win-win for families and our province.”
The province is providing the NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre with $100,000 to create a commercial kitchen that will be capable of servicing a seating area of up to 80 people. This project will assist in providing a fully functioning facility focused on the health and well-being of the community, as well as creating Winnipeg’s first community food centre which will reach an estimated 500 residents each week.
“This important project will pioneer a new community service that will serve as a one-stop shop for healthy food and positive lifestyles in northwest Winnipeg,” said Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri-Irvin Ross. “It will help provide community members with the tools and knowledge they need to make healthy and nutritious meals for their families through cooking classes and cooking groups. It will also provide people with healthy-cooking skills that can stay with them the rest of their lives.”
The funding for NorWest Co-op will also assist with accessibility upgrades and electrical work to accommodate a future outdoor kitchen and bake ovens. In addition, the co-op will enhance landscaping features on the building site including adding gardens, shrubs and shade trees.
Budget 2013 and the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan committed $7.5 million over the next three years for the Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program. This new initiative is providing grants forprojects that will provide long-term recreational and wellness benefits to communities.
The first application intake for the Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program began on May 22, making grants available for projects such as libraries, swimming pools and splash pads, parks, trails, community centres, sports facilities including arenas and gymnasiums, as well as other community infrastructure facilities. The first application intake has closed and details on the next intake will be announced on the program’s website.
More information about the Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program is available at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/ia/wcip/index.html.
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