Rural areas to benefit from £3m boost

Rural based projects in the Council areas of Lisburn City & Castlereagh District Council and Belfast City Council are set to benefit from a £3.22 million grant investment as part of the new Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme for Northern Ireland 2014 – 2020.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Nov 2014, 07:13 BST
Pictured at Pear Tree Barn Children's Nursery are: (l- r back row) Peter Shortt, Lagan Rural Partnership; Jonathan Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery and Presiding Councillor, Councillor James Tinsley, Lisburn City & Castlereagh District Council. (l-r front row) Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman Local Action Group, Lagan Rural Partnership and Julie Ann Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery.Pictured at Pear Tree Barn Children's Nursery are: (l- r back row) Peter Shortt, Lagan Rural Partnership; Jonathan Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery and Presiding Councillor, Councillor James Tinsley, Lisburn City & Castlereagh District Council. (l-r front row) Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman Local Action Group, Lagan Rural Partnership and Julie Ann Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery.
Pictured at Pear Tree Barn Children's Nursery are: (l- r back row) Peter Shortt, Lagan Rural Partnership; Jonathan Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery and Presiding Councillor, Councillor James Tinsley, Lisburn City & Castlereagh District Council. (l-r front row) Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman Local Action Group, Lagan Rural Partnership and Julie Ann Todd, Pear Tree Barn Childrens Nursery.

Members of the public are invited to register their interest to become a Board Member of the new Local Action Group tasked with the delivery of this exciting new grants programme.

Alderman Allan Ewart, Current Chairman of Lagan Rural Partnership’s Local Action Group explained:

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‘It is important that our new Local Action Group is representative of people who live and work in our local rural communities and who know at first hand the challenges, desires and needs of our rural area and will ensure that the new programme addresses these’

The role of members of the public (social partners) was critical to the success of the current rural grant scheme for the area which invested £8.7 million to support 60 rural businesses who in turn created 145 new jobs. The grant scheme also provided much needed capital to regenerate local towns and villages and helped to improve the local area’s rural tourism and rural heritage potential.

The hard work of social partners on the current Local Action Group of Lagan Rural Partnership made it possible for Jonathan and Julie Ann Todd to receive £49,900 grant investment towards the capital build of Pear Tree Barn Children’s Nursery, Ballymullan Road, just outside Lisburn. The Todd’s have subsequently returned this investment by creating 7 new jobs within the first year of operation.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend a local information event whereby more information will be provided regarding the new £3.22 million grant investment and the new Local Action Group nomination process. The information event will be held on: Wednesday 26 November 2014, 7.30pm, Chestnut Suite, Island Civic Centre, Lisburn

To register your interest, contact Melissa Cunningham by Friday 21 November 2014 on Tel: 028 9250 9489 or email: [email protected]

Related topics:CouncilBelfast City CouncilNorthern Ireland