COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND OPEN

A new fund for communities in disadvantaged areas to enhance their facilities is now opened through Louth County Council.

Applications are being invited for the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) which is a new programme for 2018.

A spokeswoman for Louth County Council explained: ‘It replaces the Communities Facilities Scheme and the Recast RAPID Programme, which launched in 2017. The CEP provides funding to communities to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas.’

She added that the Community Facilities Scheme issued funding across the county in 2017 to the value €65,000.

‘An example of some of the projects funded: Mid Louth Mens Sheds - IT equipment; Ardee District Community Trust for small upgrade works to their facility; and the Coxes Demesne Youth & Community Project - small upgrade works to their facility.’

The Muirhevnamor Community Youth Project also benefitted through an upgrade of facility equipment. The recast RAPID Programme also saw the Craobh Rua project benefit through a new computer suite.

The Community Enhancement Programme will be funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and will be administered through the LCDC and the Community section of Louth County Council.

The funding, covers capital projects only and should demonstrate added value. Projects or elements of projects of a capital nature may be funded. These include, for example, office equipment, project resources, research facilities, energy efficiency equipment, etc, for voluntary groups.

Each application will be required to show how their project will add complementarity to the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). Due to the expected high number of applications priority will be given to projects that display the most complementary to the LECP.

Application and guidelines for the scheme are available on www.louthcoco.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Monday 30th July 2018.