Local Moira business benefits from the recent Rural Business Development Grant Scheme

March 9, 2022

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is currently delivering the third round of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme on behalf of DAERA.  It has offered just under £100,000 to 25 rural micro-businesses across Lisburn and Castlereagh. 

Denver Wilson of Lift-N-Shift NI Ltd is a successful grant recipient from the current programme.  His business received a grant of £4,999 to upgrade their current equipment to include a programmable electric pipe bender.  This will greatly speed up the manufacturing process and enhance precision of the final products.  The project, which hopes to generate employment for an additional fabricator, will enable the business to expand into additional markets across the ROI and allow them to offer premium quality services to clients far and wide. 

The scheme funded under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme (TRPSI) provides micro businesses with a capital grant capped at £4,999 at a match-funding rate of 50% from DAERA and 50% from participating businesses.  Micro businesses are those with less than 10 full time employees. 

Speaking about the recent programme, Alderman Amanda Grehan, Chair of the Development Committee said “We are delighted to offer this small capital grants to support local business growth while tackling poverty within rural communities.  The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme plays a key role in the Lisburn Castlereagh area to help support the development of rural micro businesses. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity for these businesses to access financial support that can improve their processes and generate jobs.”

Examples of items funded under the recent call have included computer equipment, telephone systems, trailers, manufacturing equipment and e-commerce websites.”

The scheme is currently closed for applications.  However if you are an existing rural micro-business and would like to express an interest in similar future schemes please email grant.programmes@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or call 028 9244 7447 for more information.