Brandon University gets grant for “Building Welcoming Communities” project

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BRANDON, MB – Brandon University is happy to receive $100,000 towards the funding of their “Building Welcoming Communities” project at the Rural Development Institute (RDI). The University will receive the money from Canada’s Rural Secretariat, Community Development Program, Building Rural and Northern Partnerships to conduct a study that will evaluate opportunities regarding immigration and how it relates to labour shortages.

“Immigrants are playing important roles in businesses and in communities across Manitoba. They are critical to helping offset challenges in the labour market, and they are revitalizing rural communities,” says Bill Ashton, Director of RDI.

“Building Welcoming Communities” will focus on rural immigration specifically in southwestern Manitoba. There are 10-15 rural communities and municipalities targeted for the project.

“This study builds upon RDI’s research domain of immigrants in rural areas. Working with communities and related organizations, this project examines the services to immigrants, new arrivals and others getting established. We want to be welcoming communities to attract immigrants and to retain those already here.”

One of the goals of the project is to work with communities to develop and enhance regionally appropriate centralized resources for immigrants and service providers focused on attracting, welcoming, and retaining newcomers.

“Immigrants are helping businesses in this city and our population is growing as more families move in,” says Sandy Trudel, Brandon’s Economic Development Officer.

The Community Development Program offers funding to assist rural and northern regions to identify, build and develop their unused potential. The Program’s main focus is to create new opportunities by building rural partnerships that have a regional impact.

The Community Development Program works in tandem with stakeholders in farm and rural communities to aid in bringing people together with local solutions to local challenges through the transfer of know how between citizens.

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For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:

  • Bill Ashton
  • Director, Rural Development Institute
  • Brandon University
  • P: (204) 571-8513
  • ashtonw@brandonu.ca

 

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