Winnipeg community grant program cuts reconsidered [Video]

A sigh of relief for Winnipeg community groups concerned about the amount of money available to them through the city’s community grants program.

A motion before city council proposed cutting the amount of money from $3.4 million to $1.3 million starting in 2025.

Additionally, under the new motion, grant money would no longer be used for annual operating costs, like salaries or insurance, but would be tied to a specific program.

Thursday, council voted to send the motion back to the executive policy committee for further discussion.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the outcry from the community is partly responsible for the about-face.

“I think hearing from the organizations certainly has made a difference in this case, and when we’re trying to look at how we invest in front-line organizations, some of which are helping youth, for example, we want to make sure that we’re helping young people to get the …