Five community centres in Winnipeg will recieve a combined $146,147.02 in funding for facility upgrades in the coming weeks. 

Gateway Recreation Centre Inc., Maples Recreation Association Inc., Park City West Community Club, Tuxedo Community Centre and Valour Community Centre Inc. will use the money for a variety of upgrades through the Community Centre Renovation Grant (CCRG). 

"When we did our State of the Infrastructure report, we really saw that there is a need to invest more in our community centres," Mayor Brian Bowman said, adding he'd like to see funding for community centres increase during his second term as mayor. "Anything we can do to continue to repair aging infrastructure while also building new facilities is the balanced approach we want to be taking." 

According to the city, the CCRG provides up to $950,000 in total annual funding for community centres for upgrades and renovations every year. Each community centre that applies for funding is eligible for 100 per cent support of project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per project per calendar year. 

Since the CCRG was introduced in 2012, it has dolled out nearly $6 million in funding combined. 

"Community centres need a lot more TLC nowadays," Bowman said. "Today's announcement goes in the right direction at helping create some improvements at our important community centres city-wide." 

Bowman says one of the main reasons community centres stay afloat is the work of volunteers in the communities. He says by offering funding to help with upgrades, he hopes the city is making it easier for community members to get involved.

"Without those volunteers, our community centres simply wouldn't be able to operate," Bowman said. "It's really a win-win for everyone, and this is a modest financial contribution to help in a small way." 

Cindy Fernandes is the city's director of community services and says community centres provide an invaluable service. 

"The value of recreation extends to crime prevention and simply making a healthy community," Fernandes said. "It helps build healthy communities." 

The CCRG has two intake periods per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The five community centres receiving funding announced today were selected as part of the fall 2018 intake period.