The Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) recently announced the approval of 226 grants totaling $3,981,021 in support of enhanced quality of life for Saskatchewan residents, including many in the Yorkton area. The CIF's programs contribute to individual, family and community wellbeing through grants for childhood development, positive life choices, active living, community celebrations and facility upgrades and volunteerism.
Through its Community Grant Program, the CIF approved 102 grants totaling $1,596,7765 in support of the wellbeing and health of Saskatchewan's children and youth, families and communities. Grant approvals through the Community Vitality Program total $1,309,731 with 104 grants to help improve community facilities or support significant milestones and cultural community celebrations. The CIF also approved 20 grants totaling $1,074,525 through its Physical Activity Grant Program to encourage increased physical activity among Saskatchewan residents.
In addition to the grants, the CIF today announced programming changes that are designed to simplify access to its funding and better align its programming with the needs and priorities of Saskatchewan communities. The CIF's Community Grant Program will be broadened to accommodate physical activity and problem gambling prevention initiatives, support of nonprofits, youth engagement and leadership development, and community cultural and milestone celebrations. The program will continue to help support healthy development of children and youth, community inclusiveness and accessibility, and positive life choices. It will include aspects of the CIF's former Physical Activity, Community Vitality (Pride Project and Events), Urban Aboriginal, and Problem Gambling Prevention Programs.
Small capital projects such as energy efficiencies or community facility upgrades will be supported through the new, two-year Community Places and Spaces Program, replacing the Community Vitality Program. A community facility may be a rink, hall, arena, outdoor playground or ball diamond, or other community meeting places. Both programs become effective April 1, 2014.
"With these improvements, the Community Initiatives Fund will continue to support Saskatchewan communities and contribute to the health and wellbeing of children, youth and families," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty says. "Since its inception, the CIF has provided grants to communities, organizations and programs that have been enhancing the quality of life we enjoy here in Saskatchewan."
"We're pleased to be able to continue our contributions to an enhanced quality of life for Saskatchewan people," adds Tracey Mann, executive director of the Community Initiatives Fund. "And we're excited that through our new programming, the CIF will more directly align its grants to respond to the current needs of Saskatchewan communities."
The CIF is a Special Purpose Fund created through the Sask-atchewan Gaming Corporation Act and governed by a volunteer board appointed through the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.
Grant recipients, their projects, and more information about CIf's new programming is at www.cifsask.org.
