The Manitoba government is awarding $1.5 million in grants from the Conservation and Climate Fund to support projects that will protect the environment and bolster a green economy in Manitoba, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein announced on July 28.
"Our government is proud to support these innovative projects that further reduce carbon emissions, create good jobs, and build strong, sustainable and prosperous communities," said Klein. "These initiatives will advance our government's priority to transition to a low-carbon economy, while maintaining our current status as one the cleanest economies in Canada and around the world."
Projects receiving funding include:
- Town of Stonewall - $150,000 to electrify the mobility service, fleet and infrastructure;
- Red River College Polytech - $150,000 for an electric school bus conversion and demonstration project;
- Rural Municipality of Ritchot - $150,000 for a rural car share initiative;
- Farmery Estate Brewing Company Inc. - $150,000 to reduce carbon emissions from craft brewery production;
- Crossways in Common Inc. - $150,000 to install electric boilers and solar collection infrastructure;
- S.A.M. Properties Holding Inc. - $150,000 for the Beaumont Street mixed-income, energy efficient net-zero carbon housing project;
- Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association Inc. - $47,150 for a municipal biomass project;
- Manitoba Organic Alliance Inc. - $126,500 for a project to reduce the climate footprint of agriculture in Manitoba;
- Sustainable Building Manitoba - $90,000 for a community home energy efficiency data visualization portal;
- Louis Riel School Division Trust Fund-École Howden Parental Advisory Council - $39,950 to support the École Howden -RAIN garden project;
- Portage la Prairie Regional Library - $2,500 for a seed library project;
- City of Flin Flon - $90,000 to support Whitney arena energy-efficient boiler upgrades;
- City of Selkirk - $65,500 to support energy-efficient furnace upgrades at transit authority building;
- Lake Winnipeg Foundation - $50,000 to launch a three-year Lake Winnipeg phosphorus data set;
- Rural Municipality of Piney - $30,400 to support a climate risk assessment and climate adaptation action plan;
- Rural Municipality of Ritchot - $8,000 to support a native grasslands seeds of sustainability project; and
- Rural Municipality of West St. Paul - $50,000 to support a food cycler pilot program.
"This funding will allow our mobility service to move away from carbon-based buses to EVs, saving us money while reducing our environmental footprint," said Mayor Sandra Smith, Town of Stonewall. "The transition to EVs is not easy for organizations with limited resources like the Stonewall and Area Mobility Service, which include the Town of Stonewall and rural municipalities of Woodlands, Rosser and Rockwood. This funding is a true win for our communities, the province and the environment."
Launched in 2020, the Manitoba government's Conservation and Climate Fund supports projects being implemented by non-profit organizations, educational institutions, municipalities and northern communities to tackle climate change and protect the environment.
"This funding is a testament and recognition of the sustainability work that Farmery Estate Brewery has done and continues to do," said Lawrence Warwaruk, owner, Farmery Estate Brewery Inc. "By growing and processing our farm ingredients close to the farm gate, we create the smallest carbon footprint possible. With Manitoba's funding assistance, we are able to further our commitment to protecting the environment for the next generations to come."
Grants are awarded using a merit-based selection process that evaluates project outcomes against the priorities of the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan.
For more information on the Conservation and Climate Fund, please visit www.gov.mb.ca/grants/.
For more information on the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, please visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/climateandgreenplan/index.html.
