Rural Basic Service Grants Information Evening

Wednesday 26 September 2018, 6pm at Willowbank Business Park, Larne

If you are involved in a rural community or voluntary sector organisation, social enterprise or strategic public body in
Mid & East Antrim then this may be of interest to you. The
event will provide you with information on project eligibility
and the steps to be taken to further your project.
Up to £150,000 grant funding is available for rural
communities aiming to improve access to basic services.
For further information or to register
Tel: 028 2563 3266
Email: rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Rural Basic Service Grants Information Evening – Wednesday 26th September 2018 – Willowbank Business Park Larne at 6.00 pm

Could your rural community benefit from improved facilities?

Mid and East Antrim Local Action Group is holding a funding
information evening for the Rural Basic Services Scheme.
If you are involved in a rural community or voluntary sector organisation, social enterprise or strategic public body in
Mid & East Antrim then this may be of interest to you. 
Up to £150,000 grant funding is available for rural communities aiming to improve access to basic services.
For further information or to register
Tel: 028 2563 3266
Email: rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

A best practice visit highlighting the potential to further develop the International Appalachian Trail within the Mid & East Antrim area took place on Thursday 26^th January in Carnlough. 

The Ulster ~ Ireland chapter of the trail was established in 2011.  The trail runs from west Donegal in the Republic of Ireland to Larne, Co. Antrim.

The best practice trip was organised by Mid & East Antrim LAG staff members and involved a guided tour of Cranny Falls, a stunning waterfall that is accessible by a nature walk from Carnlough village.

The trip included 16 participants in total from 5 Local Action Groups including Donegal County Council, Derry & Strabane, Fermanagh & Omagh and Causeway Coast & Glens.   This is the third best practice trip with two already taking place in the West Highland Way in Scotland & in Gortin, Co. Tyrone.  The remaining visits will take place throughout the year.

The next step includes a feasibility study being carried out within each Local Action Group to determine what improvements could be made to the trail in each area.

Over 50 participants attended a successful workshop on 29^th June at Willowbank Business Park in Larne which was organised by the Mid & East Antrim Local Action Group.

The purpose of the event was to outline proposals for the Village Renewal/Basic Services measures, to build partnerships between community organisations and the Council and to give communities the opportunity to submit proposals and priorities to the LAG and Council.

The Village Renewal Scheme has an overall budget of £740,000.  In a change to previous Programmes, Council must be the applicant and the match funder.  It is intended that villages will work in partnership with Council to generate ideas and to implement projects.  Only one application per village will be accepted and it is anticipated that there will be a maximum of 2 calls (1 call for drafting village plans and the other for full project applications).  The call for village plans is due to open in September.

The Basic Services Scheme also has a budget of £740,000.  The Scheme is open to a range of applicants and not just to Council.  Council must provide at least 5% of the financial contribution and the applicant/community group must also provide at least 5% cash toward the project.  Basic Services has a strong emphasis on innovative capital funding.  It is anticipated that there will only be one call which will take place in November.  All applicants must attend a mandatory Rural Development Workshop on the 14^th September before they are eligible to submit an application.  

For further information on these 2 measures or to register for the Basic Services workshop, please contact one of the team at the Investment & Funding unit on 028 2563 3266 or by email rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Mid and East Antrim Local Action Group invites you to an information evening for our Village Renewal and Basic Services Schemes.

Purpose of the event

In a change to previous Rural Development Programmes, applications to our Village Renewal Scheme must be made by Council.  With this in mind, the aim of this event is to develop partnerships between Council, Community and Village Groups, and Statutory Agencies.  We will also establish the process for submitting applications for funding. 

Our Basic Services Scheme has some elements in common with Village Renewal so we will also cover this Scheme at the same event.

Contact details and RSVP

The event will be held at 6pm on the 29^th June in the Henderson Suite at Willowbank Business Park, Willowbank Road, Larne, BT40 2SF.  Light refreshments will be provided. 

Registration is essential.  Please confirm your attendance with Margaret Graham on either 028 2563 3266 or via margaret.graham@midandeastantrim.gov.uk. 

The NI Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) is open to people who live in, or organisations which operate in, either the countryside or in settlements with a population of less than 5,000.

£3.3 million of the Programme funding will be used to encourage the economic development of rural Mid and East Antrim and will be delivered across a range of Measures, including Rural Business Investment, Village Renewal, Basic Services, Rural Broadband and Cooperation. It is anticipated that the first call for applications will take place in early 2016, when the Business Measure is set to open for Micro Enterprises applicants.

The Mid and East Antrim Local Action Group held a series of Share Article information events from the 24th to the 26th November to publicise the new tranche of Rural Development Funding.

Some £3.3 million of funding is available under the Programme which will run until 2020. Almost 100 people attended the 6 events in Carnlough, Portglenone and Carrickfergus and were given information on the Programme and how to apply. The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Billy Ashe was delighted that so many people attended. He said “The Rural Development Programme is a fantastic opportunity for local people to access project financing. The funding will be used to enhance rural areas within Mid and East Antrim by creating jobs, improving infrastructure and by developing services in local communities. I hope that many of the people who attended the information sessions were encouraged to submit an application”. It is anticipated that the first call for applications will be targeted at micro businesses which employ fewer than 10 employees. Additional calls will be made throughout 2016 for larger businesses, village renewal projects, basic service and broadband projects. Mr Roy Beggs MBE, Chairman of the Mid and East Antrim Local Action Group, has one key piece of advice for potential applicants – “I would like to emphasise that you must attend a pre-application workshop in January/February before you can submit an application. The workshop dates will be advertised in the press or alternatively, if you contact the office on 028 2563 3266, we will add you to our database and keep you abreast of developments”.

Notes to editors:

• For Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Media enquiries, please contact: Brian McCalden, Communications & Engagement Co-ordinator, Tel: 028 2563 5041.