The Manitoba Government invests nearly $500,000 in non-profit organizations and municipalities from the Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) program.

The BSC program began in 2019 and is an initiative that offers communities around Manitoba the opportunity to ask the government for grants to further projects that would enhance the sustainability of their area or cause. Such as planning activities, organizational capacity-building projects, equipment costs, capital infrastructure and other local or regional initiatives. 

On June 28, the government released a media report indicating that the Khalsa Diwan Society, the Town of Arborg and the Portage Pickleball Club are receiving funds to better their facilities and encourage economic growth.

"Locally driven community development projects support sustainable, resilient communities by encouraging economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for their residents," says Municipal Relations Minister, Eileen Clarke. "Our government is committed to supporting initiatives that directly respond to local needs, especially as communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The report says that the Khalsa Diwan Society is receiving $300,000 to upgrade its facilities, such as the gathering space, enlarging the kitchen, creating a community space and improving energy efficiency. 

"The building was in need of upgrades for many years, but due to the compounding effects of COVID-19 and other factors, the upgrades were becoming beyond reach until we found out about this program," says Sukhjit Bhandal, a long-time member of the Khalsa Diwan Society. "This funding will go a long way toward meeting the needs of thousands of people in the community for many, many years to come. This program forges a great partnership between our community organization and the government."

The Town of Arborg is receiving up to $157,000 for its community training and meeting centre project, which will develop better meeting spaces and assist in programming activities for the community. The Portage Pickleball Club is receiving up to $25,000 to help further its multipurpose court upgrades project, which will renovate its current courts.

The 2022-23 BSC program has now invested nearly $26 million to support 430 community development projects throughout Manitoba.