Province of Manitoba Media Release|
Province Invests in 241 Community Centres, Arenas, Playgrounds to Make Life Better for Families: PREMIER
Budget 2013 will give families across Manitoba access to better recreational, cultural and learning opportunities by renewing infrastructure in their communities, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
Swan Valley Grants Include:
$ 7,500 Duck Bay Community Council for Community Recreation Facility Restoration
$ 7,500 Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cowan for Roof Reparis and Window Replacement
$40,000 Swan River Day Care Centre Inc. for New Building Renovations
$ 4,000 Swan Valley Historical Museum for Railroad Station Repairs to Roof
$20,000 Town of Swan River for Hall Roof Repairs
“We’ve all seen the difference that strong community infrastructure like playgrounds, libraries and community centres make in our neighbourhoods. For our children, they mean safe spaces, close to home, to learn, get exercise or socialize,” said Selinger. “We’re helping local organizations make hundreds of improvements to these community assets that will support thousands of jobs.”
The Community Places program provides funding and planning assistance to non-profit community organizations to build, upgrade, expand or acquire projects. This year, the program will invest $2.9 million into 241 community projects and help leverage over $17 million in funding from other sources.
These grants build on the newly created Community Places North program, which targets an additional $660,000 toward projects in remote northern communities.
This week is also National Volunteer Week (April 21 to 26), which makes it an ideal time to announce the recipients of this year’s Community Places grants, the premier said, adding that volunteers are instrumental in bringing these projects to completion.
“Building our community infrastructure is about more than creating opportunities for young people, seniors, families and community groups. It also means jobs and economic growth for local communities,” said Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross.
The Community Places program and the new Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan are helping build and improve Manitoba’s critical infrastructure needs such as flood protection, health centres, schools and roads as well as community infrastructure, said Selinger.
Since its creation, Community Places has provided more than $107 million in grants to support more than 7,000 community construction projects provincewide. These grants have leveraged over $700 million in infrastructure improvements in rural and urban communities, creating a broad range of jobs and stimulating the economy, the premier added.