Rural Business Development
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Rural Business Grants of up to £4,999
Capital grants up to a maximum of 50% grant rate are available to existing micro-enterprises based in a rural area to support them to recover, sustain or grow through Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme.
The scheme is open for applications between Wednesday 16 October and 12noon on Friday 8 November 2024.
Grant aid of between £500 - £4,999 is available for projects costing up to £20,000.
What can I apply for?
Grant aid is available to support the purchase of new capital items of equipment or machinery or to set up an e-commerce website which cost at least £1,000 and no more than £20,000.
Examples of eligible expenditure includes:
- Computer equipment e.g. computer laptop, printer.
- Computer software (outright purchase, ongoing license fees are not eligible).
- E-commerce Websites to allow online purchase capabilities.
- New equipment/ machinery.
- Mobile machinery, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, ride-on lawn mowers.
Further details on what is eligible and not eligible is available in the guidance notes.
Please note: the maximum number of items, or groupings of items, that you can purchase under the scheme is six.
How can I find out about the Grant funding?
To find out more about the scheme, the application, assessment and claims process, you should register and attend our mandatory workshop:
The workshops will all be held online via Microsoft Teams and will take place on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday 22 October 2024 – 6pm
- Wednesday 23 October 2024 – 1pm
- Monday 28 October 2024 – 6 pm
- Tuesday 29 October 2024 – 1pm
- Monday 4 November 2024 – 6pm
- Tuesday 5 November 2024 – 1pm
You can register for the workshop by contacting T. 028 2563 3266 or E: rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
You should also read the application guidance notes available at Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS) 2024/2025 on the DAERA website.
Is my Business Based in a Rural Area?
Rural areas are those areas with less than 5,000 residents and outside of designated urban areas. The scheme cannot support businesses based in the urban towns of Ballymena, Larne, or Carrickfergus, nor within the Mid and East Antrim Urban Area.
If you’re unsure if your business location is eligible, contact T: 028 2563 3266 or E: rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
How do I apply?
The online system will open for applications from Wednesday 16 October until 12noon on Friday 8 November 2024.
You can apply online through the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme form on the DAERA website.
Along with your completed application you will be required to submit supporting documents including:
- 2 written quotes/price-checks from different suppliers per item
- Quotes must be ‘like-for-like’ with specification
Fully completed application forms with supporting documents must be submitted by 12noon on Friday 8 November 2024.
For more information – contact us on:
T. 028 2563 3266