Portage la Prairie City Council has approved two project applications for the newly announced Manitoba Growth, Renewal, and Opportunities (GRO) program. Council finance chair Joe Masi says the program addresses critical infrastructure needs across the province, allowing rural municipalities to apply for grants covering up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. He adds the GRO program’s streamlined process allowed municipalities to focus on two high-priority projects.
Masi says council selected fire hall upgrades as its top priority. The $1.4-million project includes a new rescue truck, maintenance area renovations, and a backup generator. Masi explains the alignment between this project and the city’s safety initiatives: “This really fits in with our strategic plan in terms of community safety and well-being. It’s going to make us safer with a whole new upgrade to our fire department.” The city has committed $700,000, requesting the remaining half from GRO.
The second project, valued at $2 million, involves constructing Saint John Street, a key road within the planned Agassiz development area. “Saint John Street is a critical road for our Agassiz development, an area the province helped us acquire,” Masi said. “Roads are eligible under this program, and this project aligns with our economic growth and quality of life goals by facilitating new residential and commercial spaces.” The city is seeking half from GRO and has allocated $1 million for the project.
Masi acknowledged that competition for GRO funding is significant, with 136 municipalities outside Winnipeg eligible to apply. However, he is optimistic, noting that Portage la Prairie’s applications meet the provincial criteria, with the city's share of funding ready and projects set for implementation. The application deadline is Nov. 15, and officials are hopeful for a timely response. “It would be very helpful to know the outcome while we’re in budget discussions,” Masi said. “If approved, this funding will allow us to allocate city resources to other important initiatives as well.”