Rural Development

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Rural Development Section has the role of supporting businesses and the community in rural areas of our borough.

Rural Development Section has the role of supporting businesses and the community in rural areas of our borough.  These roles include:

  • Providing an administrative and financial management function to Ards and North Down Rural Partnership, which is the organisation tasked with delivering the NI Rural Development Programme in this area in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture
  • Rolling out the Rural Development Grant Scheme as part of DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme
  • Supporting the roll of SEAFLAG in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council as the lead administrator. DAERA has approved the NI FLAG Strategy 2018-2020, which outlines how €2.73 million (approx. £2.3 million) of funding should be allocated to the local fishing dependent communities, which includes Portavogie within this borough and up to a radius of 7 miles

Funding Opportunities

Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (now closed)

*This grant scheme closed to applications on 8 November 2024.*

DAERA has launched the 2024 Rural Business Development Grant Scheme which will deliver £1.55million in capital grants to support rural micro businesses across Northern Ireland.

The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme is funded through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs ‘Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation’ (TRPSI) Programme and is delivered in partnership with local Councils. 

Eligible rural businesses can apply for capital assistance of 50% up to the value of £4,999 for the purchase of capital equipment which will help their business to enhance sustainability or lead to growth opportunities and the creation of employment opportunities which in turn strengthen the rural economy.

Details of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme are on the DAERA website at:  

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/rural-business-development-grant-scheme-rbdgs

Only online applications can be accepted for this scheme. 

Please Note: Your business must be located in a rural area (This excludes the city of Bangor and the towns of Comber, Donaghadee, Holywood and Newtownards) & have less than 10 full time equivalent employees.

The Scheme closed to applications on 8 November 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Regeneration Team: 

Telephone – 0300 013 3333 Ext 40918 or 40893

Email – rbdgs@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

SEAFLAG Grant Scheme (now closed)

The £2 million SEAFLAG grant scheme is aimed at supporting projects which focus on:

  • Support for diversification of fisheries and aquaculture sectors
  • Adding value to fisheries products
  • Creating job opportunities and stimulating economic growth in fishing, aquaculture and marine based industries
  • Promoting social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries, aquaculture and maritime
  • Support for skills development, lifelong learning, and bespoke training opportunities
  • Strengthen linkages between fisheries actors, promote good practices and foster development of fisheries areas
  • Developing and enhancing environmental assets

Grants of up to £125,000 were available for projects in Portavogie or within a 7 mile radius of Portavogie. 

Final Call for this round was September 2020.

Find out more

Contact Rural Development

For more information on any of the rural development funding, telephone 07920187172 or 07795494932 or contact by email.

Email Rural Development

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