Grow South Antrim

Grants to GROW South Antrim's Rural Area

Grants to GROW South Antrim's Rural Area

GROW South Antrim (Generating Rural Opportunities Within South Antrim) is now open for Expression of Interests in the Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 across Antrim, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.

Vera McWilliam, Chairperson of GROW South Antrim Local Action Group comments, "The Rural Development Programme is an excellent opportunity for rural communities and enterprises across South Antrim to improve, expand or diversify, and we would encourage anyone who has a development idea to get in touch with us to lodge an Expression of Interest. We hope to be in a position to call for applications in early 2009 when funding will be allocated to projects under 6 specific themes:

•·        Diversification into non-agricultural activities

•·        Support for business creation and development

•·        Encouragement of tourism activities

•·        Basic services for the economy and rural population

•·        Village renewal and development

•·        Conservation and upgrading the rural heritage"

GROW South Antrim is a cluster grouping of Antrim, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey Borough Councils set up to distribute funding from the Rural Development Programme across the rural areas of the three Councils. The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For further information about the programme, or to request an expression of interest form, please contact Emma or Sara in Antrim Borough Council on 028 9448 1311.

Date Posted: 12 Dec 2008