Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) would like to remind all existing rural micro businesses they still have time to apply to the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 8 November 2024 for those rural micro businesses located outside the urban settlement limits of Lisburn, Carryduff, Dundonald or Belfast.

The grant scheme, which offers these businesses up to £4,999 of capital funding, is part of the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme funded by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).  

Reminding local businesses about the programme, Alderman Amanda Grehan, Regeneration and Growth Committee Chair said: “We are encouraging local rural micro-businesses to apply for funding to help them bring a project to life within in their business.  Through this grant scheme you could start to sell your products through your website or purchase new equipment to help grow and sustain your business.  Get in touch with our team who will help you through the process.”

Tessa Ann Greer, Founder of The Sound Healing Spa, was a successful grant recipient in 2022.  This local business delivers a range of therapeutic activities, services and products using the medium of sound.  Funding was received to develop an e-commerce website and purchase equipment which have enabled the business to develop a range of digital services thus expanding their customer base.  Tessa Ann said: “The grant has boosted my ability to engage with clients digitally and expand product offering to include corporate training for organisations.  Furthermore, product sales have increased as a result of the introduction of an e-commerce website.”

LCCC is delivering the scheme for rural areas of Lisburn, Castlereagh and the neighbouring rural Belfast areas.  

Eligible applications must be from existing micro-businesses with less than 10 full time employees.  The total capital costs of the projects must be between £1,000 and £20,000.    

The capital grants are capped at £4,999 at a match-funding rate of 50% from DAERA and 50% from participating businesses.  Mainstream agricultural activity is ineligible for support under the scheme.  The minimum grant awarded will be £500.

Examples of eligible expenditure include:

  • new capital equipment/ machinery
  • computer equipment and software
  • e-commerce websites

For more advice regarding eligibility, an application pack or to register to attend one of our mandatory funding workshops, please contact a member of the Programmes Team at email grant.programmes@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or phone 028 9244 7615.