The Manitoba government is accepting grant applications for community development projects and initiatives that focus on a number of topics, including reducing violence against women.

Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton and Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced Thursday the government will invest more than $20-million for projects in four main programs, including:

  • Community Places Program – which supports capital construction projects that build on facilities used by a community
  • Hometown Manitoba – which provides financial support for projects in rural and northern communities that enhance public place and building exteriors
  • Neighbourhoods Alive! – which supports initiatives that have an effect on enhancing economic development, safety and reducing crime in Winnipeg’s inner-city
  • Partners 4 Growth – which provides cost-shared funding for regions to pursue economic development opportunities

Squires is also the minister responsible for the status of women and says the funding for Neighbourhoods Alive! will focus heavily on making communities safer for women who experience violence either at home or in other places.

“We know when a woman is empowered, positive change occurs within her, her family and her community,” Squires said. “We have remarkable individuals and organizations working to enhance gender-equality and combat violence against women and I look forward to seeing what I’m sure will be innovative and thoughtful submissions to address these important issues.”

In addition to projects that support women’s safety, the province says priority will be given to projects focusing on four additional areas:

  • Projects that enable economic development and align with regional development strategies
  • Key repair of high-priority community assets
  • Community initiatives concentrating on community, heritage, tourism and recreation facilities
  • Social innovation like support for social enterprises, projects that include a social return on investment and projects that target measurable social outcomes

“Successful applicants will demonstrate how they support planning, building and sustaining communities and providing an overall positive benefit for their communities,” Wharton said.

Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) President Chris Goertzen says the AMM will have a role in the selection process.

“This is an important day for municipalities in Manitoba,” Goertzen said. “There’s a misconception that projects that enhance beautification and economic development are not as essential as other projects but they are. They make our communities more livable.”

The application deadline is May 28, 2018. People or organizations who want to submit an application can go to the Manitoba government’s website.