Funding Workshops Announced for £1.3 million Rural Business Investment Grant Scheme
February 29, 2016
Lagan Rural Partnership Local Action Group is delighted to announce a series of workshops to help new and existing businesses to explore new funding opportunities available under the Rural Business Investment Grant Scheme as part of the NI Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020.
Lagan Rural Partnership is a body consisting of local elected representatives and social partners from the rural business and community sector tasked with delivery of the new programme in the rural areas of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Belfast City Council.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has built on its strong track record of investment in the local rural economy by assisting Lagan Rural Partnership to deliver an overall £3.2 million rural grant scheme package of which £1.3 million will be dedicated to support the creation of new rural businesses and the expansion of existing rural businesses.
The new grant scheme will build on previous programme investment of £8.7 million between 2009 and 2015 which supported 151 projects across a number of measures focused on improving business potential and social impact. This significant sum of money created 28 new rural businesses, helped expand 45 existing businesses and supported 117 new rural jobs.
Blackstone Physiotherapy Clinic in Moira was one of the successful applicants to the grants scheme as part of the previous programme and was recently visited by Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, and Chairman of Lagan Rural Partnership.
Councillor Tolerton said: “I am delighted that Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council will be taking the lead in the delivery of this new programme on behalf of Lagan Rural Partnership; and I am excited about the potential for the scheme to make a positive impact on our local rural economy.”
Kay McLorn Owner of Blackstone Physiotherapy added that “The assistance from the programme was invaluable in driving my business forward and has led to increased employment and new opportunities.”
The Rural Investment Grant Scheme will provide funding up to £30,000 for new rural business start- ups and funding up to £50,000 for the expansion of existing rural businesses.
Any potential applicant to the grants programme must initially attend one of the mandatory workshops detailed below to be eligible for grant consideration:
Wednesday 9 March 2016
Location: Main Hall, Moneyreagh Community Centre, Moneyreagh
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Thursday 10 March 2016
Location: Lagan Room, Hillsborough Village Centre, Hillsborough
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 16 March 2016
Location: Chestnut Suite, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Island Civic Centre, Lisburn, (Business Breakfast)
Time: 8.00am – 10.00am
Monday 21 March 2016
Location: Education Room, Colin Glen Forest Park, Belfast
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Location: Main Hall, St. Clare’s Community Hall, Glenavy
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Thursday 24 March 2016
Location: School Hall, Cregagh Youth & Community Centre, Belfast,
Time: 12.00pm – 2.00pm
To reserve a place at one of the workshops above and receive an application pack, please contact Melissa Cunningham by email: melissa.cunningham@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9250 9489.
