Renewal scheme will focus on recovering from impact of Covid

NEW measures have been implemented in the Town and Village Renewal Programme (TVR) 2020 to help deal with the impact of Covid-19.

Asking for expressions of interest for this year’s programme, the members of the Rosslare Municipal District said the TVR 2020 would operate on the same basis as previous years ‘albeit with a particular focus on projects delivering an economic dividend and enabling towns and villages to responsd to Covid-19 challenges’.

Projects which have clear positive impacts on a town or village in terms of place-making and town centre regeneration, or which stimulate economic activity between a town/village and its neighbouring town land will be ‘particularly welcome’, as will proposals seeking to ‘develop initiatives to encourage town centre living’.

There are two categories of town/villages eligible for support under the scheme; Category One is open to towns/villages with a population of less than 5,000, Category Two for those with a population of between 5,000-10,000.

In recognition of the challenges presented by Covid-19, the maximum grant level has been increased to 90% of the total cost of a project. The minimum grant available is €20,000 and the maximum is €100,000.

The closing date for submissions is August 28, 2020 and council officials stated the intention is to submit six applications from county Wexford, one per district. All interested town/village groups should complete the Expression of Interest form (www.wexfordcoco.ie/community) and return it to the Community Development Section no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 2020.

Selected proposals will be developed into detailed applications before being submitted to the Department in August.