Southwest benefits from Community Initiatives Fund grant funding

The Community Initiatives Fund recently announced the approval of 226 grants totalling $3,981,021 in support of enhanced quality of life for Saskatchewan residents, in addition to new programming for Saskatchewan communities.

Through the Community Grant Program, the CIF approved 102 grants, including a series of Southwest project.

Four of the approved Community Grant Program projects were Swift Current’s Bright Beginnings Family Centre, which received $7,850 for their Setting the stage for Success project; Southwest Early Childhood Action Coalition, which re- ceived $3,700 for the Southwest Early Childhood Action Coalition project; Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre, which received $8,368 for The Southwest Mad Dash project, and the Swift Current Community Youth Initiative Inc. at The Center received $8,000 for the After School Drop In and Food Program. Grant approvals through the Community Vitality Program for Small Capital Grants included three Swift Current recipients: The Bright Beginnings Family Centre was granted $15,000 for the Restore and Brighten project, the Village of Beaver Flat Community Hall Committee received $10,000 for their Community Hall Restoration Project, and the Southwest Cultural Development Group Inc. received a $22,500 grant to go towards the Living Legacy Project — Phase Two: Building Code.

Throughout the Southwest, the Consul Community Hall Cooperative Ltd. received $7,500 in support of the Hall Facelift Upgrade project, as well as $8,758 for the Centennial Celebration Services project. Maple Creek’s Jasper Cultural and Historical Centre was granted $16,800 for the Mason Repointing Building project. The Southwest Settlers Center in Frontier was granted $3,500 for the Mu- seum School Building Restoration project. The Town of Gull Lake’s grant was approved for $25,000 for the Rink Renovations: Board Replacement project, and Shaunavon’s Wellness and Leisure Committee received a $7,500 grant in support of the Perk Up Shaunavon’s Ball Diamonds project. In addition to the grants, the CIF announced changes to programming that is designed to simplify access to its funding and better suit the needs and priorities of communities. The CIF’s Community Grant Program will be expanded to accommodate physical activity and problem gambling prevention initiatives, sup- ports of nonprofits, youth engagement and leadership development, and community cultural and milestone celebrations. While the program will continue to support healthy child and youth development, community inclusiveness, and positive life choices, it will also include aspects of CIF’s former Physical Activity, Community Vi- tality (Pride Projects and Events), Urban Aboriginal, and Problem Gambling Prevention Programs. A new two-year Community Places and Spaces Program has been added, replacing the Community Vitality Program. Small capital projects such as energy efficiencies or facility upgrades will benefit from this new program.