December 02, 2004

Rural and northern communities and enterprises interested in revitalizing their exterior main street spaces can look for their 2005 Hometown Manitoba application forms in the mail or on the Internet early this month, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today.

"During its first year in 2004, Hometown Manitoba supported 176 upgrading and beautification projects worth more than $300,000," said Wowchuk. "We expect even more communities and enterprises to participate in 2005."

The minister noted that Hometown Manitoba is intended to keep main streets vibrant and help citizens maintain a feeling of pride in their communities. Physically enhancing community main streets can also encourage economic growth and social sustainability while helping retail, social, educational and recreational facilities meet the needs of local residents.

Under Hometown Manitoba, rural and northern communities receive financial assistance on a cost-shared basis to improve main street projects. The program includes two categories: Main Streets Meeting Places, which supports improvements to outdoor public meeting places and green spaces with grants of up to $5,000; and Main Streets Enhancements, which provides grants of up to $1,000 to improve building exteriors in main street areas.

Applicants have until March 15, 2005 to submit their applications. For more information about the Hometown Manitoba program call 1-800-567-7334, contact a Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Intiatives office or visit:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/ri/community/ria01s04.html.

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