New! Farm Diversification Awareness Day
Wednesday, 8th September at The Jungle, Moneymore
Diversification - Business Planning Course
The second edition of the GROW newsletter is now available to download.
Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population
Support for the Development of Basic Services
Aim: to provide support to new and existing Private Sector Businesses, Social Economy Organisations, Public Bodies and Not-for-Profit Community Groups in order to:
- Expand basic rural services
- Improve access to rural services
- Improve the quality of life for rural-dwellers
- Promote basic rural services
- Create employment opportunities
Activities which may be eligible for support under this Measure include:
- Creation and/or enhancement of services for mental health & well being
- Creation of leisure & recreation facilities
- Facilities for youth and older people
- Services for those with learning disabilities
- Reinstatement of townland signage
- Creation or development of rural community transport
- Community well-being
- Redevelopment of existing or new community buildings.
For private sector organisations, funding is available at 50% grant aid up to a maximum of £50,000.
For social economy organisations and non-departmental public bodies, funding is available at 75% grant aid up to a maximum of £250,000.
Where the total project cost is greater than £10,000, Community/Voluntary groups must be registered as a Community Interest Company, Limited Liability Partnership or Company limited by guarantee. Where the total project cost is £10,000 or less, the Community/Voluntary group must have a constitution in place. In all cases a lease must be in place to cover the duration of the project (1 year, 2 years etc).
Eligible Activities -the following activities are eligible for support under the measure:
- Research to identify the needs of isolated rural communities
- Measure technical assistance for building capacity to enable improved provision of basic services.
- Measure technical assistance for developing integrated action plans
- Undertaking infrastructural improvements
- Developing innovations in access to basic services for rural communities
- Demonstration or pilot projects
- Recreational activities
Please note that salary costs may be limited to a percentage of the total project cost; please contact the GROW office for further guidance.
N.B This measure is not intended to replace the responsibility of other Government Departments or Agencies in defining what their basic services are or where a service has a low priority on their funding list, to top up the funding shortfall. If you are unsure if the project you are proposing is eligible, please contact the GROW office.