Community and voluntary groups around Galway are being encouraged to apply to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will focus on COVID-19 issues this year.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme awards €15 million worth of grants each year for projects that will help “rejuvenate” rural villages and towns.
The scheme is delivered under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s “Rural Development Investment Programme”, and has awarded €68 million since being launched in 2016.
Galway East TD Seán Canney said that the 2020 scheme is being tailored to address the challenges created by COVID-19, including a new Accelerated Measure.
“The emphasis this year will be on economic and social recovery for our towns and villages,” Seán Canney said.
“This could include public realm projects to make our communities more accessible or to promote enterprise hubs and remote working.”
“Projects could involve initiatives such as re-purposing areas to encourage street trading, online business campaigns for retailers or small scale events that would boost activity in village and town centres in a safe, attractive way.”
The Accelerated Measure being introduced for the scheme this year is for projects that can be delivered in the short term for immediate benefit.
Funding under the accelerated measure would be up to €25,000 per project, increasing to €40,000 for high-impact proposals.
All projects funded under the scheme be deliverable with a reasonable period of up to 18 months.
Deputy Canney added that in order to help interested groups with their applications, an information webinar will take place this Thursday, June 18 at noon.
The webinar is being hosted by Galway Public Participation Network. To take part please register at cmay@galwaycoco.ie.
Galway County Council is now seeking expressions of interest from community, voluntary, and business representative groups interested in the scheme.
There will be two rounds for the Accelerated Measure with deadlines for expressions of interest of Monday June 22 and Monday July 13.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the main Town and Village Renewal Scheme is Monday July 13.
