Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir has launched a £2.2 million capital grant for rural areas.
Under the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS), capital grants of between £500 and £2,500 will be available to eligible rural community and voluntary organisations, and ‘social economy enterprises’.
The aim of the scheme, which is now open for applications, it to support small-scale capital projects that help tackle locally identified issues of rural poverty or social isolation, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said.
The scheme is funded through DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) programme. Projects supported under the scheme must focus on one of four themes.
These themes are energy efficiency and environmental improvements; modernisation of buildings or assets; information communication technology; and health and wellbeing.
The scheme will be delivered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA. Applicants will be required to provide a minimum of 15% match-funding.
The scheme will close for applications at 12:00p.m on June 22.
Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme
Commenting on the scheme, Minister Muir said: “The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme provides targeted support to voluntary and community organisations for capital purchases or minor improvements that can make a real difference locally, helping them to enhance services, bring people together and help reduce loneliness and isolation.
The minister said that the grant will also contribute to environmental targets.
“I am delighted that the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme can support a just transition by enabling rural groups to implement energy efficiency measures and environmental improvements that can provide savings both in emissions and energy costs,” he said.
Minister Muir added that the higher maximum grant rate of £2,500 will give organisations “greater flexibility to invest in the equipment and improvements they need”.
“I would encourage eligible organisations to consider applying and to contact their local Rural Support Network for advice and support with the process,” he said.
