Deadline approaches for renewal scheme

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF LESS THAN 10,000 PEOPLE

SMALL towns and villages interested participating in the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017 are urged log their interest ahead of the deadline later this week.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was recently announced by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, the scheme and aims to rejuvenate rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000.

An outline document for the scheme and an Expression of Interest form are available on Wicklow County Council’s website, www. wicklowcoco.ie

Expressions of Interest for proposed projects compatible with the selection criteria outlined should be submitted by noon this coming Friday, May 19.

The value of any project can extend from €20,000 to a maximum of €100,000. A higher maximum grant of €200,000 will be considered for a limited number of projects where a robust case can be made demonstrating exceptionally strong economic benefit to a town.

The selections of projects will be by way of a competitive process.

Wicklow County Council can select up to 15 proposals to be developed into detailed applications to be submitted to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on or before June 30.

The department will assess the applications and select the projects which are considered appropriate for funding.

High priority projects for the department will include those that: support entrepreneurship (e.g. develop enterprise hubs, hot desk facilities, digital hubs or training facilities); display integrated approaches to developing individual sectors within the town and/or its environs (e.g. artisan food hubs, craft hubs); demonstrate collaboration between town centre businesses and the surrounding area to produce economic benefit; encourage tourism; enhance heritage and/or community assets; enhance town safety and accessibility; provide or improve leisure facilities (e.g. town parks, walking trails); conduct or commission a town/village health check; and develop quality marks, such as Purple Flag, Heritage Town, etc.

The department will approve up to 300 projects nationally for funding, depending on the quality of the projects and the level of funding sought.

Expressions of Interest should be directed to Deridre Whitfield, Community Cultural and and Social Development Section at Wicklow County Council, before noon this Friday, May 19. Ms Whitfield can be contacted at 0404 20204 or dwhitfield@wicklowcoco.ie