Manitoba funding project targets infrastructure projects
By Adam Freill
Construction InfrastructureNew grant program accepting applications to help Manitoba municipalities with long-term infrastructure planning.
Manitoba has a new federally funded grant program to help municipalities with local and regional long-term infrastructure planning.
Federal Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Andrew Smith, and Manitoba Consumer Protection and Government Services Minister James Teitsma recently announced the launch of the $780,000 Municipal Capacity Building Fund.
“Our government is excited to see Manitoba use the Canada Community-Building Fund in such a creative way,” said Vandal. “This new grant program will support municipalities across the province as they build their long-term infrastructure plans to ensure high-quality outcomes for their growing communities. I encourage municipal leaders from all corners of our province to apply.”
The Municipal Capacity Building Fund is an application-based grant program aimed at helping municipalities in that province undertake local and regional long-term infrastructure planning, such as the development of asset management plans.
“This new fund will help municipalities with their infrastructure planning, allowing them to better manage their budgets while serving their residents,” said Smith. “As a result, Manitobans living in these communities will benefit from more reliable and affordable services, and a better quality of life overall.”
Funding is provided through Manitoba’s portion of the Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly called the federal Gas Tax Fund. Any grants provided under the Municipal Capacity Building Fund would be in addition to municipalities’ allocations under the Canada Community-Building Fund.
“Planning for infrastructure in the long term is key to building stronger communities,” said Teitsma. “This new fund will provide municipalities with the support and flexibility they need to develop these important plans and build their capacity for this work.”
Municipalities must demonstrate how the project will meet the outcomes of the capacity building category of the Canada Community-Building Fund. Maximum funding for projects will be $50,000 per project and can be applied to 100 per cent of eligible project costs. To be eligible for funding, a project must help address municipal long-term infrastructure planning practices or plans and can include specific education and training projects.
Eligible recipients can be a single municipality undertaking its own project, municipalities collaborating on a joint project or a municipality sponsoring a non-municipal entity to launch a capacity-building initiative for the benefit of one or more municipalities.
