GROW A4 trifold - Nov 2015

Invest together‌ grow together

Invest together… grow together Are you a farmer, business owner, community organisation or one of the many other people who live or work in our countryside? If so, the Rural Development Programme is an excellent opportunity to improve, expand or diversify. If you have a development idea, GROW support can help turn your ideas into reality.

GROW South Antrim Generating Rural Opportunities Within South Antrim has a budget of approximately £2.6million to allocate to rural communities across Antrim and Newtownabbey.

GROW’s funding comes from the European Union and Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and is being distributed as part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. GROW is one of 10 clusters delivering the programme across Northern Ireland.

Importantly, local people are involved in the decision making process of distributing these funds. With a Board of 16, GROW has representatives from business, community, agriculture and Council, all of whom live, or work in the Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey.

GROW has a wider membership of over 50 local people who contribute to the strategic direction of the programme and who monitor its progress.

Who can benefit?

GROW supports projects that are based within, or that can demonstrate a significant impact on, a rural area of Antrim and Newtownabbey. Support can be offered to: • Individuals • Private Businesses • Community Groups • Not-for-Profit Organisations • Non-Departmental Public Bodies

What’s Available?

A wide range of support is available from GROW South Antrim to stimulate economic activity, boost employment rates, support and enhance sustainable basic services and regenerate villages.

Funding is available under the following schemes: • Rural Business Investment This scheme offers support to develop the local rural economy by creating employment opportunities and promoting entrepreneurship amongst private business and social enterprise sectors. Support is available for farmers to diversify into non-agricultural activities, individuals with a new business idea and for existing micro and SME businesses to develop and expand.

• Rural Basic Services By providing access to more and better basic services and through improvements to social infrastructure, this measure aims to improve the living conditions and welfare of those living in rural areas to enhance the quality of life for rural dwellers.

• Village Renewal This measure offers support to villages and surrounding rural areas to develop and implement integrated action plans, promote community development and regenerate the area through village renewal schemes and village enhancement, thereby enriching the community infrastructure.

• Co-operation This is a unique measure where GROW will have the opportunity to work in partnership with other Local Action Groups both locally and across Europe to implement projects which will mutually benefit our rural areas.

Eligible Areas To be eligible for funding from GROW South Antrim your project must be based or demonstrate a significant impact within a rural area of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Local Government District.

Details of the eligible rural areas are available on the GROW website, or by contacting the GROW office.

Eligible Expenditure Grant Aid can be awarded towards capital and resource costs, including for example: • Capital items, including building works and signage • Non-mobile equipment and machinery • Marketing • Professional fees Details of the maximum funding amount under each scheme are available on the GROW website, or by contacting the GROW office.

GROW is unable to fund • • • • • • • •

Projects that have already commenced Projects creating economic displacement Retail enterprises The purchase of land and buildings Vehicles and mobile equipment Business running costs Own labour costs Provision of new and/or additional bed spaces in accommodation • Renewable energy

Please note that these lists are not exhaustive and each application is considered on an individual basis.

For guidance on eligible items and expenditure,

please contact the GROW office.

Match Funding Grant aid is available under the Rural Business Investment scheme at 50% match funding rate. For example, if your total eligible project cost is £40,000 you can apply to GROW for a maximum grant of £20,000.

Grant aid is available under the Basic Services and Village Renewal Schemes at 75% match funding rate. For example, if your total eligible project cost is £40,000, you can apply to GROW for a maximum grant of £30,000.

How to apply

How will the application be processed?

To get an indication of whether your project may be suitable for funding you can submit a short Expression of Interest form. If the proposal is eligible in principle you will be advised to go through the full application process.

A site visit will be carried out to talk through your project proposal and to gather additional project details in support of your application.

Prior to submitting an application, applicants must attend a pre-application workshop where detailed guidance on the application and assessment process, the grant aid available and the conditions of funding will be provided. This is also an opportunity for you to speak to a Project Officer about your project.

Applications will be subject to an economic appraisal and checks with statutory agencies for eligibility and funding duplication purposes. The project will be scored by an assessment panel against set criteria and a recommendation will be made to the GROW Local Action Group who will make final funding decisions.

What are the Pre-Requisites at time of application?

• You must be 18 years of age or over

Applications, business plans and supporting documentation should be submitted on-line via an on-line EU Database by the specified closing date. If you are unable to access the internet, please contact the GROW Office for advice.

• You must have a business plan • You must have attended a pre-application funding workshop • You must have full planning permission in place • You must provide evidence of match funding • You must provide quotes to demonstrate the costs of the project

GROW South Antrim (Generating Rural Opportunities Within South Antrim) has been appointed in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area to implement the LEADER element of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.

The Programme is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Timescales for application

How to get in touch

Details of application calls will be available on the ‘What’s happening’ section of our website or by contacting the GROW office.

Contact:

We aim to have applications assessed and decisions made normally within 12 weeks of the closing date on each call.

Emma Stubbs Economic & Rural Development Manager or a member of the Project Team:

Sara Thompson, Jeni Porter or Denise Fullan Applicant submits Expression of Interest and is advised on eligibility of project

Applicant submits application form and supporting documents

GROW South Antrim c/o Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mossley Mill, Lakeview Crescent Newtownabbey BT36 5QA

Eligibility Check and Site Visit carried out

by GROW

Tel: 028 9448 1311 Email: info@growsouthantrim.com

Applicant attends pre-application workshop

Application assessed; if successful approved for funding by Local Action Group If application is successful a letter of offer is issued to the project and funding is awarded

www.growsouthantrim.com Find us