Saskatchewan Municipalities Encouraged to Apply for Targeted Sector Support Funding

Released on April 2, 2024

Today, the Minister of Government Relations and the Targeted Sector Support (TSS) steering committee announced the spring application intake for TSS funding opens April 2, 2024. The TSS Initiative is a cost-shared grant program that encourages municipalities to work together to build stronger Saskatchewan communities.

"The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to offer this funding to municipalities in partnership with the province's municipal associations," Government Relations Minister Don McMorris said. "Through their innovative projects, municipalities work together to strengthen their services to build stronger, responsive communities that keep Saskatchewan thriving."

The TSS Initiative provides cost-shared grants to support municipalities with projects that strengthen core operational capabilities through increased regional cooperation. These projects lead to more efficient and effective municipal service delivery, and enhanced governance and administrative capacity in Saskatchewan.

TSS projects are selected under one of the following funding streams: capacity building, regional cooperation, municipal corporate transition, and relationship building and dispute resolution. Partnering municipalities can apply for up to 75 per cent of eligible project costs, up to the maximum of $100,000.

Previously approved projects include:

• A feasibility study for the creation of a municipal district;
• An urban and rural asset management plan; and
• Governance training.

Annual funding of $1.5 million for the TSS Initiative is allocated from a portion of the Municipal Revenue Sharing program. The TSS Initiative is managed by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) on behalf of the TSS Steering committee that consists of SUMA, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities (New North) and the Ministry of Government Relations.

"Partnerships are key to strengthening communities, and this is why being part of the TSS Initiative is important to us," SUMA President Randy Goulden said. "Together, through TSS funding, communities can pursue projects that build capacity and strengthen local governance. Whether the project involves collaborating on a land use strategy, creating an emergency preparedness study, or completing a regional assessment, we encourage Saskatchewan's hometowns to apply."

"We are pleased to see another round of applications for the TSS Initiative," SARM President Ray Orb said. "SARM believes in the power of partnerships and that funding projects that support inter-municipal cooperation will advance the sustainability of communities across the province. Municipal Revenue Sharing is important for building strong municipalities."

"The funding from the TSS Initiative offers an opportunity for lasting change," New North Chairperson Tabitha Burr said. "This support empowers municipalities to take the lead on essential projects, fostering resilience and collaboration within and beyond their borders. New North is proud to contribute to this initiative, recognizing the potential collective impact that diverse perspectives with a shared vision of enhancement and innovation can have on our future generations."

Since 2020, the TSS Initiative has allocated almost $5 million in funding to 127 municipal projects.

Applications for this intake period will be accepted from April 2 to June 7, 2024.

To learn more and to apply, please download this TSS fact sheet and visit saskatchewan.ca.

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