Council Calls for Applications to Rural Business Investment Scheme
January 29, 2018
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is calling on all new and existing businesses within rural Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and rural Belfast City Council to consider applying to the next round of The Rural Business Investment Scheme.
The grant scheme, delivered by Lagan Rural Partnership Local Action Group, provides investment support for the creation and development of micro and small enterprises (including farm diversification and private tourism businesses) in rural areas. Funding is available up to £30,000 for new rural business start- ups and up to £50,000 for the expansion of existing rural businesses.
Andrew and Ivan Keys from Keys Brothers Horticulture Ltd were successful grant recipients from the last call for applications held in Spring 2017. Their business received grant for the purchase of specialist equipment that allowed them to expand their capabilities to service, repair and modify horticultural machinery particularly used within the golf industry.
Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee reiterated the Council’s call for applications during a recent visit to Keys Brothers where he congratulated Andrew and Ivan on their grant award and commended their ambition to develop other products for the golf industry and thus improve their export capabilities.
Alderman Ewart said: “I am delighted to visit Keys Brothers today and I take great encouragement that the funding received through the Rural Business Investment Scheme has the potential to create up 2 additional jobs within the company”
Alderman Ewart continued: “This demonstrates what the grant funding can do for businesses and how it can assist with their growth plans. The benefits are clear and I am urging rural businesses based in Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and rural Belfast City Council to consider applying to the next round of the Rural Business Investment Scheme and, if successful, reap the rewards.”
Lagan Rural Partnership is a body consisting of local elected representatives and social partners from the rural business and community sector within the area of benefit.
Nessa O’Callaghan, Vice-Chair of Lagan Rural Partnership, also encouraged rural businesses to consider application stating: “We were delighted that up to £1.2 million of grant funds were committed under our first two calls for applications. I would strongly advise that any rural businesses wishing to avail of this great opportunity should apply under this second call there is a real possibility that this could be our final call under the current programme.”
Mrs O’Callaghan continued: “To date the Rural Business Investment Scheme has been a real catalyst in our aim to invest in rural business creation and expansion and most significantly the creation of new jobs in our Council area. In order to be eligible for grant consideration potential applicants must attend one of the mandatory workshops. Please come along to find out more about the scheme and how it can work for your business.”
The remaining mandatory Public information sessions for the Rural Business Investment Scheme are as follows:-
Wednesday 7 February 2018
Location: Meeting Room 1, Cregagh Youth & Community Centre, Belfast
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Thursday 8 February 2018
Location: St. Clare’s Community Hall, Glenavy
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Tuesday 13 February 2018
Location: Chestnut Suite, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Civic Headquarters, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
To reserve a place at one of the workshops above and receive an application pack, please contact Jennifer Carberry by email: ruraldev.officer@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9250 9489.