October 2, 2015
Province Advises Applications for 2016 Hometown Manitoba Grants Still Being Accepted
– – –Community Projects Enhance Rural Communities: Minister Kostyshyn
Manitoba communities looking to beautify their parks, streets and public spaces can still apply for assistance grants from the province thanks to the continuation of the Hometown Manitoba Grant Program, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.
“Our rural communities are filled with generous, hardworking Manitobans who take pride in their communities,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “The Hometown Manitoba grants will fund projects that are most important to the lifeblood of small towns, giving residents and visitors even more reason to celebrate these communities.”
The Hometown Manitoba program provides annual funding in three categories:
- Hometown Meeting Places supports community projects that enhance main street areas and public places like parks, museums and recreation centres;
- Hometown Main Streets Enhancements focus on upgrading the appearance of building exteriors and outdoor spaces in main street areas; and
- Hometown Tree Planting supports greening projects for towns and municipalities including parks, golf courses and entrances to communities.
Non-profit community organizations, municipalities and northern community councils or co-operatives are able to apply for these grants. The deadline to apply for 2016 grants is Dec. 15. Small businesses are also eligible for Hometown Main Streets Enhancements. Over the past year, this program has distributed $225,000 to fund 101 new projects in communities across Manitoba, the minister noted.
“Hometown Manitoba projects invigorate communities along with providing a great first impression to visitors who explore the many beautiful towns and communities that make up Manitoba,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “Past projects have included improvements and beautification of downtown storefronts, tree planting in public parks and golf courses, and exterior enhancements to community halls and gathering places.”
Since Hometown Manitoba was launched in 2004, the Manitoba government has invested more than $4 million in support of 2,339 projects.
For more information about the Hometown Manitoba program and the 2016 application, visit www.gov.mb.ca/agricultureunder Rural Communities.
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