In 2013, after a couple of years without a grocery store, the residents of Inglis and the surrounding area decided to open a community owned store that would service the community and keep the village alive.
At that time, 68 people purchased shares to re-open the store, renovated and updated the flooring, painted, hired a manager, and purchased inventory.
With 100 transactions a day, the store was more than viable but was more than 100 years old, was deteriorating and space was an obvious issue.
The committee went to the RM of Riding Mountain West who agreed to supply the long unused curling rink for use with the stipulation that the project include much needed fuel. With that decided, after coming up with an overview of the building and the necessary renovations to the existing curling rink, the cost was estimated to be over $400,000.
Then the search for funding began with the Manitoba Government Economic Programs Branch who the community had used with the original store when it was first renovated and incorporated in 2014.
“There was a two year program that we applied for called Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit (CED)” Glenda Chescu of the committee explained.
“This credit is 45% of the share amount purchased and is a refundable Manitoba tax credit which is available to individuals or companies and has no limit share investment.”
This credit was eligible for 2024 and 2025 with the date ending Feb 27, 2026. Each share is $900.00.
With the funding and share structure in place, it was time to make the dream come true.

Get the whole front page story in this week's Russell Banner.