April 4, 2019
Province Streamlines Community Development Programs
The Manitoba government has launched a new Building Sustainable Communities Program that will streamline and modernize grant support to non-profit organizations, Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton announced today.
“Our government recognizes the importance of community development initiatives and supporting non-profit organizations,” said Wharton. “This new program will support a broader range of community-led projects and deliver on our mandate to renew community development programs to best serve the needs of Manitobans.”
The new $7.9-million Building Sustainable Communities Program will transform and modernize grant funding with a focus on increasing community capacity and promoting sustainability for non-profit organizations. The new program replaces seven legacy grant programs that each had significant administration, rigid requirements and operated in silos. The overall funding levels for community grants remains consistent, the minister noted.
The modernized grant program will respond to local neighbourhood, municipal and regional priorities while providing a more comprehensive grant funding package to support a broader range of projects including planning, capital (construction), capacity building, and recreation and equipment purchases among others. The program will also reduce both applicant and administrative red tape and duplication, Wharton added.
“As an organization committed to the social and economic development of our community, we are proud of our long-standing partnership with the province, and delighted to see a realignment of government programming that we hope will work towards greater efficiency, reduced red tape and stronger outcomes for communities,” said Greg MacPherson, executive director, West Broadway Community Organization. “In particular, we applaud the effort to streamline the application process, ensuring valuable time and energy is spent doing critical front-line work.”
Eligible applicants for the new Building Sustainable Communities Program include non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, municipalities, and Northern Affairs Community Councils. The program will provide a maximum provincial contribution of up to 50 per cent of total eligible project costs to a maximum grant of $75,000.
“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is pleased to partner with the province in assessing the applications and making recommendations on the Building Sustainable Communities Program,” said Ralph Groening, president, AMM. “These projects are essential in promoting economic development and sustainability throughout our province.”
The new program will have two intakes per year at set times, providing predictable support and positive outcomes in communities. Successful applications will need to demonstrate how their projects provide an overall positive benefit for their community and partnerships are encouraged.
Intake for the program opens today and application deadline is May 22. For more information, or to submit an application, visit www.manitobago.ca.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2019/04/BG-Building_Sustainable_Communities_Program-MR.pdf