Derry and Strabane Rural Partnership creates new opportunities for rural businesses

by Gráinne Connolly

New opportunities have become available for rural businesses and communities within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. 

It's through the latest release of LEADER funding. 

A total of £7.54 million is allocated to the district council area over a four year period by the Rural Development Programme for Northern Ireland 2014-2020. 

It will be available through four schemes. 

One of them is the Rural Business Investment Scheme which will open for its third call.

It applies to new or existing rural based micro/small businesses and social economy enterprises (involved in non-agricultural/non agri-food related activities). 

Funding is primarily for capital grants from £5,000 up to £90,000 with some marketing support up to £10,000 also available. 

Another scheme is the Rural Basic Services Scheme which opens for its first call. 

It offers capital funding to help support innovation, such as the creation of community hubs to deliver multiple services where there is a clear need for absent or difficult to access services. 

It's also for those seeking small grants (£10,000 to £50,000) and technical support (£500 to £5,000). 

Elligible applicants for the scheme include those in the community or voluntary sector, strategic public bodies or local council or partnerships. 

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Hilary McClintock gave both schemes her support. 

She said "These schemes are designed to support rural businesses and communities, helping them to make a real difference in rural areas and providing crucial support in a challenging economic climate."

Chair of Derry Strabane Rural Partnership, Councillor Patricia Logue said "Both opportunities are significant for rural areas". 

They will help local businesses grow, while creating new jobs and export potential that will help them compete more efficiently on a global scale. 

For those interested in either funding schemes you can register for one of the mandatory pre-application workshops for the relevant scheme - ( you must attend a workshop to be eligible for funding).

The Rural Business Investment Scheme will hold pre-application workshops  on the 24th, 26th and 27th of April in Castlederg, Strabane and Derry. 

 The Rural Basic Services Scheme will hold 7 pre-application workshops across the council area between 27th April and 4th May.

Individuals attending the workshops must be either the business owner/a director or an authorised signatory. 

For more details visit: www.derrystrabane.com/rural

To book a workshop email: rural.development@derrystrabane.com 

Or phone: 02871253253 ext 6917.