June 9, 2010
New Winnipeg Regeneration Strategy Designed to Support Inner-city Revitalization
– – –Initiative Would Renew Infrastructure, Stimulate Economy, Preserve Heritage, Improve Lives of Aboriginal Residents: Lemieux
The new Winnipeg Regeneration Strategy (WRS) will be the blueprint for provincial efforts to revitalize the capital city, Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.
“This strategy confirms the province’s commitment to renewing and strengthening the economic and social vitality of the inner city,” said Lemieux. “We want to build on the city’s proud heritage, wonderful cultural diversity and strong entrepreneurial spirit.”
Building on Manitoba’s investments under the recent tripartite Winnipeg Partnership Agreement and previous urban development agreements, the new five-year plan will concentrate on three priorities:
· Aboriginal capacity-building to close the economic and social gap between urban Aboriginal people and other Winnipeggers;
· downtown renewal to encourage downtown living, identify and support key capital infrastructure projects and heritage preservation initiatives, and stimulate strategic social and economic initiatives in the downtown district; and
· development of inner-city resiliency to improve the physical, social, economic and environmental conditions and outcomes for the inner city through comprehensive approaches based on community economic-development principles.
The first phase of the strategy began with provincial involvement in the recently launched, three-year $20-million Downtown Residential Development Grant Program. This program is a key component of the WRS Downtown Renewal strategy, said Lemieux.
All levels of government as well as non-governmental partners have a role in inner-city revitalization, the minister said. As individual projects are identified, partnerships will be formalized through memorandums of collaboration.
“We are also pleased that Manitoba Budget 2010 includes $3,428,000 under the Winnipeg Regeneration Strategy to assist successful ongoing programs formerly funded under the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement to continue their valuable work,” Lemieux said.
“We look forward to this strategy becoming the new cornerstone in the provincial blueprint for renewal in Winnipeg,” the minister added. “We are excited at the prospect of working with our partners to create long-term solutions to the challenges in the core area.”
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