The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council is inviting expressions of interest from new and established business and community groups across the county in relation to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017.
An initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development ‘Realising our Rural Potential’, funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the primary aim of the €20 million scheme is to enhance and develop towns and villages socially, economically and culturally.
Up to 300 towns and villages across Ireland will benefit from funding under the scheme, which will be made available locally through Clare County Council to support rural regeneration. The scheme is specifically targeted at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. Applications from towns can range from €20,000 to a maximum of €100,000.
Chief executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling said, “The scheme will allow local business and community groups to fund projects that can support rural regeneration and help to boost economic activity in Clare’s towns and villages. This funding supports the work of Clare Rural Development Forum in delivering on its Strategy for Rural Clare.”
“All expressions of interest received during the coming weeks will be assessed by Clare County Council, following which up to 15 eligible projects can be selected and submitted to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for final project selection in July. The deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 4pm on Friday, May 26.
