FRANCAIS

June 28, 2000

The Manitoba government today officially launched Neighbourhoods Alive!--a comprehensive, innovative and significant provincial investment in neighbourhoods in need in Manitoba, announced Premier Gary Doer and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean Friesen.

A key component of Neighbourhoods Alive! is the new Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, a $2 million fund which will provide financial support to community organizations for local planning, enhancement projects, economic development and community support programs.

"Neighbourhoods Alive! represents our commitment to community revitalization," Doer said. "Community organizations now have a program that will be defined by the community according to the distinctive needs, conditions and priorities of individual neighbourhoods."

"Neighbourhoods Alive! recognizes that often the best ideas for neighbourhood revitalization come from the community itself," added Friesen, the lead minister for Neighbourhoods Alive! "Our aim is to work with residents, community groups, local organizations and other levels of government to support these exciting ideas and goals."

Neighbourhoods Alive! is a long-term, community-based, social and economic development strategy that supports and encourages community-driven revitalization efforts in specific neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.

The strategy will encourage efforts in a number of key areas including:

• housing and physical improvements;
• employment and training;
• education and recreation; and
• safety and crime prevention.

Last month, Manitoba Family Services and Housing, in partnership with Neighbourhoods Alive!, committed $8 million over four years to the Winnipeg Housing Initiative, a tripartite agreement with the city and federal government to provide community organizations with single-window access to housing assistance.

"The goal of the $2 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is to complement housing and other renewal projects to ensure that the various programs of Neighbourhoods Alive! work together towards tangible results in identified neighbourhoods," Friesen said.

Doer said Neighbourhoods Alive! is an innovative way of working towards community renewal. "By crossing provincial departments--and joining forces with residents, community groups, other levels of government and other stakeholders--Neighbourhoods Alive! is the type of co-ordinated, integrated strategy that is long overdue.

"For many years, residents and community groups have been telling us that improved housing is one of a number of factors that create safer and more stable neighbourhoods. That is the strength of Neighbourhoods Alive!--it brings together complementary resources and focuses them on the neighbourhoods most in need."

Friesen noted that another key feature of Neighbourhoods Alive! is that the initiative and all the related programs of government will be accessible by contacting the Neighbourhoods Alive! co-ordinator. The co- ordinator can be reached at 204-945-3379.

"We recognize that the needs and priorities of each community vary," Friesen said. "This structure allows us to build on the existing strengths and experiences of communities by collaborating on projects that are tailored to individual neighbourhoods."

Neighbourhoods Alive! will also include new and redirected programs in the areas of education, training and employment, safety and crime prevention, and recreation. Details on additional Neighbourhoods Alive! initiatives will be announced in the coming months.

"It is with pleasure that we are able to launch Neighbourhoods Alive! and fulfil our election promise to join in community efforts to revitalize neighbourhoods in need," Doer said. "Healthy families require strong communities, and building strong communities benefits all the citizens of our major urban centres."

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