The Town of Altona is joining other Manitoba municipalities in submitting applications to the Province's GRO Fund. According to the Government of Manitoba web site, GRO is an application-based program designed to help municipalities outside of Winnipeg advance critical infrastructure that will support growing and sustainable communities. For 2025/26, funding of up to $42 million is being made available through Manitoba’s annual Rural Strategic Infrastructure Basket, delivered under the Strategic Municipal Investment Fund. Altona has made two applications. The first is for $600,000 to help continue its road renewal program, started in 2024. "If we can tap into those funds, we'll be able to do a larger project again," said Mayor Harv Schroeder. Last year, Council spent just over $1 million refurbishing 23 local streets by having 4,000 linear metres of asphalt milled and filled. The plan in 2026 is to get just as much accomplished with the help of this grant and another $600,000 chipped in by the Town. "A larger project (also) allows us to get a better price," noted Schroeder. "We know road repairs are high on the list for this council and, I think, for the community," he added. While Council is planning to move forward with road improvements next year, regardless of whether it gets this grant, Schroeder says how much they can get done will depend on this funding. This fund also allows for a joint, or collaborative, submission with other municipalities, and as such, the second grant application is being made in partnership with the Municipality of Rhineland for the purchase of a pumper truck for Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services.