Province launches community grants program

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This article was published 30/04/2024 (521 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Building Sustainable Communities initiative introduced by the previous provincial government is being replaced by a new $12.5-million community funding program.

“This new initiative will bring municipalities and community organizations on board to tackle root causes of poverty and exclusion and will engage kids in meaningful activities,” Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie said in a Monday press conference at the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation’s building on Rosser Avenue.

“By keeping youth engaged in positive recreation through well-funded programs, we can have a huge impact that keeps them out of a lifestyle of drugs and gangs,” Bushie said.

The minister said the program is intended to become permanent and not a one-off.

The opposition Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, criticized the announcement, saying the NDP halved funding compared to the previous program.

Until May 31, non-profits, municipal governments (except the City of Winnipeg) and Northern Affairs Community Councils can apply for grants to the “From the Ground Up” program under three streams: community renewal initiatives, community spaces and “healthy, safe connected children and youth.”

Under the first two streams, non-profits can get up to 80 per cent of program costs up to $100,000 covered and municipalities can get up to 50 per cent of costs up to a maximum of $100,000 covered.

In the youth stream, the percentages remain the same, but the maximum available funding is just $50,000 per project.

Of the $12.5 million, $800,000 is set aside specifically for “after-school and weekend programs and weekend program in high-needs areas in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.”

When asked what is considered a high-needs area in Brandon, Bushie said that would be determined through discussions with front-line workers.

As for why Building Sustainable Communities is being replaced rather than extended, Bushie said that program was increased as a pandemic recovery measure, and the new initiative will allow the province to take a more targeted approach to Manitoba neighbourhoods in need.

Bushie listed after-school programs, youth drop-in programs, recreation programming, community centres, drop-in centres, play areas and splash pads as potential projects eligible for funding.

Also speaking at the announcement was Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Glen Simard, the NDP MLA for Brandon East.

“I think the No. 1 thing that we can really agree on is revitalizing communities,” Simard said. “It’s what I heard every single day on the election campaign trail when I went door to door.”

As a former teacher, Simard said he knew from experience that offering kids and adults places where they can occupy themselves is a “real benefit to the community” and used the BNRC’s Creation Nation maker space as an example.

Both Bushie and Simard touted the program as an example of their government’s commitment to be tough on crime and its root causes.

The executive director of the BNRC, Rushana Newman, said support like this program will offer is important because challenges faced by a community cannot be solved by one individual or organization by themselves.

After the conference concluded, Newman said the BNRC is always looking for opportunities to help revitalize downtown Brandon.

“If you look at the BNRC in general, all our programs are embedded in community development,” she said. “We look forward to navigating the three streams and leveraging that funding for the needs of the people and the need of our community as much as possible.”

She said she was interested in seeing if the new program would provide financial support to the organization’s maker space, which does not receive external funding.

Last winter, the BNRC received provincial funding to establish a 24-7 drop-in centre.

“That project ended on March 31,” Newman said. “It went very well. We saw an average of 50 persons use that space per night … We’re offering wraparound services to the clients now by the Blue Door’s daytime operations.”

Going into next winter, she said the community is working on making the centre a permanent initiative.

The Tories’ municipal relations critic, Trevor King, said the revamped program is emblematic of the NDP raising taxes but cutting services.

“After months of delays caused uncertainty for municipalities, the NDP government is now rebranding a successful grant program and delivering less funds to fewer communities,” King said in a statement sent by email.

“By cutting grant funding in half, the NDP are picking winners and losers. Most communities in Manitoba are going to get less funding than they did under the PC government.”

More information on the From the Ground Up program and how to apply can be found online at gov.mb.ca/grants.

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