The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. It opens on 4 May, 2022, and aims to help rural micro businesses to sustain, develop and recover from the Covid 19 pandemic.
The scheme is funded through the DAERA Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme, and will be delivered in partnership with local councils.
The grant will provide capital assistance of 50% up to the value of £4,999 for the purchase of capital equipment to help rural businesses remain sustainable and recover from the ongoing pandemic.
The grant funding will also provide the opportunity for some businesses to increase innovation activity as well as the efficiency of their rural businesses.
Rural businesses continue to play a vital role in sustaining rural communities and hence their own sustainability at this challenging time is very important.
The total amount of funding provided to rural businesses under the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme from 2019 to 2021 is £4.25m.
Only online applications will be accepted for this scheme. Applications open at 9:00am on 4 May and closes again at 12 noon on 31 May, 2022.
For more details regarding the scheme, see here.