Last week, the Manitoba Government awarded Large and Small Capital Grants as well as Special Initiatives to Community Projects in Manitoba.
According to the Government of Manitoba website, "The Arts, Culture and Sport in Community (ACSC) Fund will provide grants to support the arts, culture (heritage, public libraries, and ethnocultural organizations) and amateur sport sectors, enhancing Manitobans' opportunities to access quality programming and facilities in their own community. Distributed over two years, up to $100 million in funding will support three programs: Large Capital Projects, Small Capital Project and Special Initiatives, and Community Celebrations"
MLA for Midland Blaine Pedersen outlined many of the projects receiving funding in his constituency.
"The South Central Regional Library in Miami, for library renovations, is getting $12,000, Golden Prairie Arts in Carman, for some upper-level renovations, is getting $25,000, Ski Birch is two different grants, and they're getting $60,000, Boyne Regional Library, for their Discover and Gold Passes, is getting $25,000 and the Town of Carman, under the Large Capital Grants, the Carman Dufferin Arena Ice Plant Replacement Project, is getting just over $475,000. So, it's substantial, what's going into our communities."
Newly elected Carman Town Councilor Erin Lemky sits on the Recreation Committee and shared her reaction to hearing the news of the Carman Dufferin Arena Ice Plant Replacement Project receiving $475, 090.
"It's very exciting. That it's going to be applied to replace what some of us call the 'vintage ice plant', that was installed in 1972. So, it is definitely well past its 30-year life expectancy and a very exciting moment for people in the community and the recreation department."
This upgrade will make the arena more energy efficient, helping with real-time energy management, keep the system running at peak efficiencies and improve maintenance schedules and longevity. Lempky noted the lifespan of an ice plant is traditionally thirty years, and they have limped their's past fifty years, and it's showing its wear and needs to be replaced.
She expressed her thoughts on why this kind of funding is important to the Town of Carman and area.
"The Town of Carman, the RM of Dufferin, and the surrounding areas, we pull in over about 10,000 people. So, to help support the small communities and keep the recreation alive is really important to promote healthy lifestyles. If the government can show they recognize that and support these communities and healthy lifestyles, then it promotes people to see their dollars are getting used for their livelihood and their lifestyle."
Lemky said there are a number of events, programs and groups keeping the arena busy in the winter. She thanked the Recreation Department staff and the leadership of Rec Coordinator Renae Wolfe for her hard work in putting together a well-written application, noting her passion for the job was evident in it.
Lemky expects to have the ice plant up and running for the 2024 Season to kick-off the 10th year of Summer Camp at the end of August.
Pedersen added, a lot of these projects have a direct impact not only on youth, but on all ages, making the region more appealing for those considering making Midland the area they want to live, work and play.
Pedersen encouraged those who were unsuccessful in their applications, or those wanting this type of funding for their community project, to apply for the next round of applications.
"There are a number of other projects that were put in. I've been in contact with them to get them to reapply. In some cases, they were just missing some pieces, in other cases, they didn't have enough matching funds in there, and I've talked to them to possibly scale back their projects, or address some of the deficiencies in them, because there's another intake on these and it's also open to any other arts culture and sport group."
The deadline for ACSC Small Capital and Special Initiatives is April 17th.
Find a full list of grant recipients here.
Fri, May 17, 9:00 AM
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