Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

What is this program about?

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund assists neighbourhood organizations representing residents and other local interests, in strengthening local capacity and revitalizing designated urban neighbourhoods through a broad range of locally planned and supported initiatives.

The designated neighbourhoods are communities experiencing significant social, economic and environmental challenges such as high rates of poverty, unemployment and crime as well as a lack of adequate recreation, family support, affordable housing and economic opportunities.

Why a fund?

Each of the designated neighbourhoods has different needs, priorities and resources that can be identified in a neighbourhood plan. What the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund does is help make it possible for neighbourhood organizations to carry out projects that will help achieve the goals of the neighbourhood plan. Support from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund can complement local contributions of cash, labour, materials, services and other in-kind support and contributions from other funding sources.

Who can apply?

Applicants should be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.

The proposed project must be located in or benefit the residents of a community designated for Neighbourhoods Alive! support.

The designated communities have an active Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation supported by Neighbourhoods Alive!

The following communities are designated for Neighbourhood Renewal Fund support and have Neighbourhoods Alive! supported Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations in place:

• Brandon: City Centre
• Thompson: City of Thompson with a focus on pockets of need throughout the community
• Winnipeg: The program focus is on several “Major Improvement Areas”, as identified by the City of Winnipeg, that represent some of the inner city neighbourhoods most in need: Lord Selkirk Park, Point Douglas, Spence, West Broadway, William Whyte, Centennial, Daniel McIntyre, Dufferin, North Portage, St. John's, St. Matthews, West Alexander and Elmwood
• Portage la Prairie: City of Portage la Prairie with a focus on pockets of need throughout the community
• City of Dauphin
• City of Selkirk
• City of Flin Flon
• Town of The Pas

How do you apply for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund?

Download and complete the following application and buget worksheet:

• Neighbourhood Renewal Fund or Community Initiatives program Application Form (.doc)
• Neighbourhood Renewal Fund or Community Initiatives program Budget Worksheet (.xls)
  
  
  • Neighbourhood Renewal Fund or Community Initiatives program Budget Sample (.pdf)

Completed application packages (application and budget) must be submitted to Neighbourhoods Alive! by the intake dates listed below.

What kinds of initiatives are eligible?

To receive support from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, initiatives must aim to strengthen local capacity, help revitalize the neighbourhood and reflect the objectives and priorities of the neighbourhood plan. An application should show how the project:

Benefits the neighbourhood and local community and supports the goals and objectives of the neighbourhood plan.

Involves the neighbourhood in the planning and implementation of the initiative.

Has the support of the Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.

Creates opportunities for local people to participate in communities, and take into account the distinctive needs, conditions and priorities of individual neighbourhoods.

There are four (4) categories of eligible initiatives:

Neighbourhood Capacity Building:

Supports projects that: promote neighbourhood consultation, outreach, awareness and collaboration; enhance knowledge, skills and leadership; nurture individual and community pride; and support the sustainability of programs.

Neighbourhood Stability:

Complements housing improvements in a neighbourhood by supporting projects such as: renovations to neighbourhood facilities; developing or reclaiming of parks and open space for community use; developing community gardens; improving local amenities; and contributing to neighbourhood beautification.

Neighbourhood Economic Development:

Assists neighbourhood organizations to prepare community economic development strategies for their neighbourhoods that foster balanced, equitable and sustainable economic development and develop projects that: provide local business opportunities; enhance employment and training opportunities for local residents; and promote local purchasing.

Neighbourhood Well-being:

Funds activities that support neighbourhood cohesion and well-being by: enhancing neighbourhood safety and preventing crime; reducing at-risk behaviour (e.g. recreation programs); contributing to better health practices; strengthening tenant-landlord relations; and improving neighbourhood co-operation.

What about housing assistance?

Neighbourhood Housing Assistance is available in Neighbourhoods Alive! designated communities. Support for housing revitalization is also available through other federal and municipal programs.

In Winnipeg, housing assistance can be accessed through a “single window” called the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative.

For more information on housing assistance, see the Neighbourhoods Alive! Neighbourhood Housing Assistance Fact Sheet.

What is the application process?

Applications to the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund are to be submitted by the deadline date to the address below.

Applications for funding must be sent to Neighbourhoods Alive! before the intake deadline. After the intake deadline, all projects submitted for funding will be reviewed by the local Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation to confirm that projects reflect the priorities of the community and neighbourhood renewal plan. Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations will forward feedback to Neighbourhoods Alive!, providing community-based input about the projects.

For assistance with developing an application, please refer to resources in the Neighbourhoods Alive! Toolbox.

All applications must be reviewed by the local Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation to confirm that projects reflect the priorities of the community or neighbourhood renewal plan except for Elmwood Neighbourhood.

In Elmwood/Chalmers, applicants are encouraged to contact Neighbourhoods Alive! for guidance when developing project ideas. Once the application has been submitted to Neighbourhoods Alive!, the Neighbourhoods Alive! committee in Chalmers will renew the project.

Are there specific dates for submitting applications?

How do you Contact Neighbourhoods Alive!?

See our contact information.

How do you Contact the Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations:

See a list of the Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations here.