DLDC have announced that they will host ten public information meetings about new LEADER programme funding.
Would you like funding and support for a business idea, plan for your local community, or project that could benefit you, your family, your farm, or your community?
Grants for projects which enhance the quality of rural life will soon be available from the European Commission’s latest LEADER funding programme and details about how to apply will be on offer at ten public information meetings that Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) is hosting from October 3rd to 10th at locations throughout the county.
The meetings will provide all the information needed to apply for grants from the €12.8 million in LEADER 2014-2020 programme funding that Donegal has been allocated by the Irish government for rural business, farming, and community initiatives.
“LEADER is all about local people coming up with ideas that help to economically sustain and improve the quality of life in their local areas,” said Frank Kelly, Rural Development Manager at DLDC, which has administered several LEADER programmes since 1995.
“This is the first chance that promoters will have to avail of some decent funding for their projects from this particular LEADER programme.”
The LEADER 2014-2020 public information meeting times and places are as follows: Monday, 3rd October, at St. John Bosco Centre in Donegal Town from 4 to 5.30 p.m. and Niall Mór Centre in Killybegs from 7.30 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, 4th October, at Rosnakill Tourism Activity Centre from 4 to 5.30 p.m. and The Ozanam Centre in Dunfanaghy from 7.30 to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 6th October, at the CPI Centre in Castlefinn from 4 to 5.30 p.m. and Letterkenny Public Services Centre from 7.30 to 9 p.m.; and Monday, 10th October, at Erne Enterprise Centre in Ballyshannon from 10 to 11.30 a.m., Glenties Community Centre from 1 to 2.30 p.m., Ramelton Town Hall from 4 to 5.30 p.m., and Cathedral Hall in Raphoe from 7 to 8.30 p.m.
Attending one of the public information meetings will enable potential applicants to make the strongest submissions possible to the LEADER selection process, which is expected to be particularly competitive this time around.
“Funding for this LEADER programme in Donegal has been reduced by up to 50 percent, from €25 million in the previous programme to €12.8 million this time around, so we are expecting that there will be quite a bit of competition for grants,” Frank said.
“As a result, it will be very important for promoters to come along to one of the public information meetings and learn all of the details that they need to ensure that their proposals fully meet all of the criteria required in order to receive LEADER funding.”
Details about the LEADER programme, including case studies describing the wide range of Donegal projects which have previously received LEADER funding, are available on the DLDC website at www.dldc.org.
More information about the LEADER 2014-2020 funding programme is available by ringing the DLDC Letterkenny office on (074) 91 27056 or the DLDC Donegal Town office on (074) 97 23368.
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