Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen along with Councillors Robert Gibson, Robert Adair, Alan Graham, Colin Kennedy, Nigel Edmund, Stephen Dunne and Trevor Cummings.

Minister Michelle McIlveen joined members of the Ards and North Down Rural Partnership Board at Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Comber on to launch ‘Rural Partners’, the programme that will see up to £3.8M invested in rural development in the local area.

Minister McIlveen (Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs),who is herself a Ballygowan resident, commented:

“The Ards and North Down Rural Development Strategy represents an investment of £3.85million in the rural communities in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area over the next five years. It will help stimulate the economy, create employment, improve basic services and promote rural regeneration and is a clear example of my determination to enhance the quality of life for those living in rural areas.”

The Programme, which runs from 2014-2020, consists of four key schemes:

• The Rural Business Investment Scheme will provide investment support for the creation and development of micro and small enterprises (including farm diversification and private tourism businesses) in rural areas.
• The Rural Basic Services Scheme will support capital investments which will provide access to basic services or improvements in social infrastructure (including activities to reduce isolation and / or poverty) to improve the welfare and access to basic services of those living in rural areas and which are an integral part of, and in line with, the Council Community Plan and emerging priorities.
• The Village Renewal Scheme will provide financial support primarily for the drafting of integrated village plans and also for the renewal of rural villages through village plans.
• The Rural Broadband Scheme will provide financial support to fill the gap for rural dwellers who cannot avail of broadband and will help address the very rural ‘not spots’ that are not within the scope of any other government initiatives.
These schemes will lead to a significant investment in the provision of basic services to rural communities, the regeneration of our villages, the creation of more jobs, and inviting further investment as businesses thrive and expand.

Speaking at the launch, Councillor Robert Adair, Chairperson of Ards and North Down Rural Partnership’s Board - that is tasked with the delivery of the Programme - thanked those who were involved in the development of the Interim Rural Development Strategy for the area.

He commented:

“The work of the Partnership will be central in the delivery of the Strategy and I would like to offer my thanks to the members of the Board for their work to date. The Partnership involves people on the ground making decisions on programme delivery to ensure that the projects that receive funding best fit with their particular area. This is modelled on the LEADER approach; a methodology centred on engaging and supporting local people to meet local needs."

Councillor Stephen Dunne added:

"The Rural Partnership provides funding opportunities for a wide range of individuals and businesses and I am delighted that work is progressing to develop the Partnership and open up to applications in the future. This is a very worthwhile scheme and I look forward to work progressing in the future and I certainly would commend the work to date and the Minister Michelle McIlveen for her work in driving forward this programme."

"This funding is a welcome boost in the current economic climate, and provides opportunities to generate new business opportunities and improve the quality of life in rural areas.”
Pre funding information workshops are currently under way for the Basic Services Scheme and the Rural Business Investment Scheme will open again in the Autumn.