Derry City & Strabane - Rural Development Grant scheme offers businesses opportunity to gain competitive edge
 

  



 
 




















 
 
 
 


    


















	


    
    




    




    


        



            
    

                
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				Home»Your Council » News » Rural Development Grant scheme offers businesses opportunity to gain competitive edge
	



  
  



  

    

      
Rural Development Grant scheme offers businesses opportunity to gain competitive edge

    

    

03 May 2022


Small rural businesses in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are being encouraged to stake their claim for development grant funding worth up to £4999.00.



The Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme's (TRPSI) Rural Business Development Grant Scheme opens this week and aims to support the sustainability, recovery and development of rural micro-businesses across Northern Ireland.



The programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and this grant Programme is administered and managed by local Councils.



Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, encouraged local businesses to find out more about the application process and avail of the opportunity to give their business a competitive edge.



"The TRPSI programme is an opportunity for rural micro businesses to take their enterprise to the next level by investing in equipment and machinery that can help streamline your business and give you a competitive edge in the market place," he said.



"It has been a challenging period for rural businesses on a number of fronts however this is an opportunity to invest in computer equipment and mobile machinery that can make help take your business to the next level.



"I would urge applicants to plan your attendance at the Pre Application workshops being hosted by Council on zoom - these are mandatory and will give you the best chance of a successful application," he added.



The Scheme can provide funding of up to 50% of costs for capital items up to a maximum of £4,999. 



The minimum grant awarded will be £500 and the total cost of the capital project must be a minimum of £1,000 and not exceed £20,000. 



Applicants must provide the remaining match funding towards the project. 



This is a competitive process and all grants awarded will be determined on the basis of merit.



Businesses who previously received funding under the 2020-21 TRPSI Rural Business Development Scheme are not eligible to apply.



The Programme will be open for applications from Wednesday 4 May 2022 and will close on Tuesday 31 May 2022 at 12 noon.



Grant aid is available for a range of capital items including: computer equipment and software, E-commerce websites, new equipment / machinery, mobile machinery, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, ride-on lawn mowers.



Covid-19 business recovery equipment, including free standing screens and hand sanitizer units.

Full details of application criteria and the pre-application workshops is available at derrystrabane.com/business-support​.



To find out more about the scheme, the application, assessment and claims process, you should read the application guidance notes.



Derry City and Strabane District Council can provide support and guidance in relation to your application, please contact us before May 16th should you require assistance with completion of your application.