December 23, 2009
Grant applications for Manitoba’s popular Community Places program will be available today and will be accepted until Feb. 15, Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said.
“By continuing to expand and improve the facilities that provide leisure, recreation and wellness initiatives across the province, this government is continuing to improve the quality of life for Manitobans,” said Irvin-Ross.
The Community Places initiative provides funding and planning assistance to non-profit community organizations for facility construction, upgrading, expansion or acquisition projects. Eligible projects must provide sustainable recreational and wellness benefits to communities, the minister said. Non-profit organizations can apply for assistance for critical building repairs, energy-saving initiatives and user-related improvements.
Eligible projects can receive up to 50 per cent of the first $15,000 of total project costs and up to one-third of costs over that amount; the maximum grant is $50,000. Applicants must contribute to project costs by providing additional resources from local fundraising, grants from local governments and other sources, and donated labour and materials.
In 2009, the provincial government invested $4.5 million in Community Places grants to support 306 neighbourhood construction projects provincewide in both rural and urban communities ranging in size from $1,757 to $9.6 million, Irvin-Ross said. These grants have leveraged $46.8 million in infrastructure improvements. Examples of projects approved in 2009 include:
• $40,000 to construct a skateboard, BMX and in-line skate park in Gimli;
• $40,000 to expand the Anola Community Club;
• $36,000 to reconstruct an old Winnipeg street car for display at the Winnipeg Railway Museum; and
• $22,000 to convert the heating system to geothermal in the Brunkild Memorial Recreation Centre,
To receive a grant application or for more information on the Community Places program, contact the program office in Winnipeg at 945‑0502 or 1-800-894-3777 (toll‑free), e-mail
mcpp[at]gov.mb.ca or visit
www.gov.mb.ca/chc/grants- 30 -
