Rhineland to see $446,000 infrastructure funding boost

An extra $446,000 will be added to the Municipality of Rhineland's budget in 2024. 
    
At the beginning of August, the Province announced a total of $39.9 million dollars in one-time funding is being distributed to municipalities outside of Winnipeg on a per capita basis to help mitigate high levels of inflation, which government says can affect the successful delivery of capital projects. It is the remainder from the overall $70.6 million strategic infrastructure basket.
    
"It's a pleasant surprise," said Reeve Don Wiebe. "It will cover some holes."

The money can be used to support strategic infrastructure projects.

"It may well apply to buildings and infrastructure," added Wiebe. "We'll have to take a good look at those needs and see where we can best put this money."

One possible use, noted Wiebe, is to cover a bit of shortfall incurred for the public works and fire hall project in Plum Coulee. 

From here, Wiebe says administration will see where this funding could be best used and take those recommendations to the finance committee for a presentation to Council.

In total, the Manitoba government announced $84 million to support infrastructure projects in municipalities outside of our capital city. Up to $44.5 million of additional incremental funding will be available through the new Municipal Economic Development Infrastructure Program in 2023-24. This application-based program will support strategic infrastructure projects focused on economic development, renewal and innovation including:

- critical projects that improve public safety such as roads, bridges and active transportation;
- inter-modal transportation such as airports; and
- solid waste management and organic diversion.

While he feels the criteria is a bit restrictive at this point, Wiebe is intrigued to see that regional projects are included.

Under the Municipal Economic Development Infrastructure Program, the Manitoba government will allocate funds to municipalities based on demonstrated level of need. The project evaluation process will consider factors such as:

- alignment with municipal capacity and plans;
- regulatory compliance;
- regional benefits;
- climate resiliency;
- funding leveraged from other partners;
- project readiness; and
- key project outcomes.

"We need to take a good look at that and see who we partner with or who partners with us, and how many," explained Wiebe. "Waste management is one of those things. I would like to see a bit of a broader flexibility in that, including drinking water, but we'll see where that takes us."

Application deadline for the Municipal Economic Development Infrastructure Program is October 6th, 2024.

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