(AGENPARL) - Roma, 16 Febbraio 2023 - (AGENPARL) – gio 16 febbraio 2023 [Manitoba Media Notice]
February 16, 2023
Governments of Canada, Manitoba Announce $780,000 for Municipal Capacity Building Fund
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New Grant Program Now Accepting Applications to Help Municipalities with Long-Term Infrastructure Planning
Today, federal Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Andrew Smith, and Manitoba Consumer Protection and Government Services Minister James Teitsma announced the launch of a new grant program using federal funding to help municipalities with local and regional long-term infrastructure planning.
“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 a new, application-based grant program that will help Manitoba municipalities 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/plans, and can include specific education and training projects.
“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities commends the provincial and federal governments for launching the new Municipal Capacity Building Fund to support sustainable infrastructure assets and management in Manitoba municipalities. This new funding support will help municipalities with long-term infrastructure planning while also enhancing municipal capacity to deliver the best, most cost-effective outcomes for their communities,” said Kam Blight, president, Association of Manitoba Municipalities.
Eligible recipients for the Municipal Capacity Building Fund 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.
Municipalities can access more information about the program and the application form through Manitoba Municipalities Online at https://www.gov.mb.ca/mao/subscriber/login.aspx.
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For more information:
– Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
– Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.