Winnipeg Real Estate News
March 1, 2002
Projects in Winnipeg, Thompson and Brandon are receiving $2.4 million from the provincial government under its Neighbourhoods Alive program to assist in organizing neighbourhood revitalization efforts. Another $3.6 million has been given by the three levels of government to the North End Housing Project to renovate 53 rundown houses in Winnipeg's North End.
In Winnipeg, funding under the province's Neighbourhoods Alive program will be provided to neighbourhood renewal corporations, or NRCS, serving the West Broadway, Spence and North End areas.
In the North End, the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative, which is cost shared by the federal, provincial and city governments, will cover roughly $20,000 of the cost of upgrading the 53 houses, while another $18,000 will be provided by the Residential -Rehabilitation Program, a federal program that is administered by the province.
NRCs are locally-based, democratic organizations that focus on community economic development and building the capacity of their neighbourhoods. The NRCs lead revitalization efforts in their respective communities and are instrumental in identifying priorities for assistance from Neighbourhoods Alive. They are also required to formulate neighbourhood development strategies to guide revitalization efforts and identify priorities and plans of action.
The announcement of $2.4 million over five years will assist the five NRCs with core operating costs, including staff, facility and office expenses.
The five NRCs receiving Neighbourhoods Alive funding are:
The West Broadway Development Corporation, currently in its fifth year of operation, will receive $75,000 annually to sustain vital community leadership.
The Spence Neighbourhood Association will receive $75,000 annually to continue and enhance innovative efforts to revitalize the Spence area, with the full participation of area residents and other stakeholders.
The North End Community Renewal Corporation will receive $200,000 annually for its revitalization efforts in the William Whyte, Lord Selkirk Park, Point Douglas, Luxton and Burrows-Central areas.
The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation will receive $75,000 annually to continue its efforts to renew Brandon's historic city centre area.
The Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation is the newest NRC to be formed with Neighbourhoods Alive support and has a city-wide mandate with an emphasis on pockets of deterioration. The corporation has received $25,000 to date for start-up costs and to formulate a neighbourhood development strategy. Once the strategy is in place, the Thompson NRC will also be eligible for $75,000 in annual operating funding.