Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017 – Call for Expressions of Interest
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2017 (an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential) was recently launched by the Department of Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The scheme is specifically targeted at towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. (Note: Census 2016 – Population of Thurles Urban 6,814 and Thurles Rural 2,314; Rural & Urban together 9,128 – Yes Thurles Town Qualifies.). A National Fund of €20m will be made available on a competitive basis for projects developed at local level. The Department have indicated that they will approve nationally up to 300 projects, (or over 66,000 per project) to be commenced in 2017 and completed by mid 2018.
The focus of the Scheme is on rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
Tipperary County Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from town/village groups who may have a suitable project for consideration under the scheme.
All expressions of interest will be assessed by the Council based on the priorities as contained in the Scheme Outline. A maximum of 15 proposals can be selected for County Tipperary, including those put forward by the Council itself, for development into detailed applications which will be submitted by the Council to the Department. It is the Department who will make the final selection and approval of projects to be funded by the Scheme.
Project proposals must include activities that will have clear positive impacts on the town or village making them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. Extra priority will be given to projects which stimulate economic activity in the town/village and between it and neighbouring townlands.
Up to 80% of the total cost of a project can be provided for any individual project; 20% match-funding has to be provided. A town/village project application can include several linked components to support the rejuvenation of the town/village. The minimum grant which is available is €20,000 and the maximum, generally, is €100,000.
Please find ‘Expression of Interest Form’ etc linked HERE
Any interested town/village group must complete the ‘Expression of Interest Form’ and return it to the Community & Economic Development Section, Tipperary County Council, Ballingarrane House, Cahir Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary or email to townandvillage2017@tipperarycoco.ie no later than 12.00 noon on Friday 26th May 2017.
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