Rural Development Programme (RDP) Information Sessions – March 2016
RDP Presentation to cover: • RDP background – the LAG etc • Overview - 4 funding schemes • Summary plans for 2016 • Rural Business Investment Scheme – Available funding – Eligible and ineligible costs – Mandatory requirements – Pre-funding workshops
The LAG • Local Action Group (LAG) = Derry and Strabane Rural Partnership • 24 board members (also a wider LAG membership) 13 social partners (community/voluntary, business & farming) 11 elected representative/councillors • Area aligned to new Council boundary • Derry City & Strabane District Council – administration & animation • Budget - £7.54 million (£6.18m for projects – primarily capital ) • LAG established 2015. Funding 2016 to 2020
The LAG Area Eligible area = core rural area outside Strabane town and city of Derry (plus Culmore, New Buildings, Strathfoyle, Drumahoe, Nixon’s Corner & Coshquin) Population 57,252
The Interim Strategy • Interim Rural Development Strategy - submitted December 2015 • 5 public workshops & other events/surveys – engaged 430 people • Approved by DARD February 2016 • ‘ Interim ’ - as will be reviewed once Community Plan finalised Overall aims: 1. Creating jobs and sustainable employment in rural Derry & Strabane 2. Improving the quality of life of the rural Derry and Strabane area 3. Improving the connectedness of the area to wider opportunities DARD = Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
The Funding Schemes Four funding schemes: 1. Rural Business Investment Scheme 2. Rural Basic Services Scheme 3. Rural Village Renewal Scheme 4. Rural Broadband Scheme And Rural Co-operation Scheme: – All LAGs must spend minimum of 7% of budget on co-operation – Must include 2 cross-border projects. – Can also be joint projects with other LAGs in NI, GB and other EU.
Funding Allocation SCHEME FUNDING % TARGET NUMBERS £2,586,000 45% 29 businesses Rural Business Investment (68 jobs) 11 projects Rural Basic Services £1,725,000 30% 15 village plans Rural Village Renewal £1,206,400 21% 8 projects Rural Broadband £230,000 4% 1 scheme £432,600 7% 2-3 projects Rural Co-operation (100%) TOTAL £6,180,000
Summary of Funding Schemes SCHEME WHAT APPLICANT GRANTS Non-agricultural /non-food Businesses £500 to £90k Business activities for micro and small (50%) Investment enterprises Capital support for key service Community/ Basic Services £5k to £500k delivery community hubs voluntary and (75%) where lack of services public sector Council (& £500 to Village Renewal Village plans & village capital community/ £500k (75%) projects (e.g. environmental, voluntary) derelict buildings/ sites, shop fronts etc) Small infrastructure schemes Community/ £5k to £100k Broadband to help address ‘not spots’ not council/social (75%) being addressed through any enterprise (Council as other government initiatives. applicant)
Plans for 2016 SCHEME PROPOSED TIMESVALE • Business Investment Mandatory pre-funding workshops – March 2016 • Call for applications – April/May 2016 Potential 2 nd call in September/October 2016 • • Basic Services Scoping study to identify priority services/areas – ensuring linkage with community planning • Expression of interest process • Village Renewal Scoping study/animation to identify priorities & bring together key players – ensuring linkage with community planning and local plans • Application process for new village plans • Expression of interest process for capital projects • Further scoping and expression of interest process Broadband
Main changes from last RDP… • New mandatory pre-funding workshops (to address low success rate in previous programme). • Primarily capital funding across all funding schemes. • More emphasis on project being ‘ investment ready ’ before applying e.g. business plan, planning approval (if required), match funding and quotations all required when applying.
Rural Business Investment Scheme (RBIS)
RBIS - Overall • Primarily capital grants • Primary objective is to create new jobs . • Some resource funding for bespoke training & marketing • 50% funding available • Only one application per business per call • Applicants – micro, small and social enterprises AIM – to create additional sustainable employment in the rural area that encourages young people to remain locally through support for viable businesses and enterprises in line with the Council’s Integrated Economic Strategy and the Community Plan
RBIS – Available funding Activity Min Grant Max grant Technical support and bespoke training £500 £5,000 Marketing support web based £500 £5,000 Marketing support non web based £500 £10,000 Capital Grant - new micro enterprise £5,000 £30,000 Capital Grant - existing micro enterprise £5,000 £50,000 Capital Grant - existing small enterprise £5,000 £90,000 Micro enterprise = employs under 10 persons and annual turnover under EUR 2M Small enterprise = employs 10-50 persons and annual turnover under EUR 10M Note: maximum grant per enterprise will be inclusive of technical/marketing/training elements
RBIS – Eligible Eligible Capital Costs: Examples of business/activities: Construction/improvement Rural tourism Caravan sites, campsites, of immovable property Purchase of new machinery pod sites or bunkhouse Craft businesses or equipment Intangible investments (e.g. Leisure/recreation software, trademarks etc) Social service provision Technical support (e.g. I.T/digital feasibility studies/fees etc) Services Other (non-agricultural)
RBIS - Ineligible Examples of Ineligible Costs: Examples of Ineligible Activities: • Running costs • New tourism bed spaces • Purchase of land • Traditional retail businesses • Replacements • Purchase & installation of • Vehicles renewable energy • Meeting statutory technologies • Agricultural products requirements • Work already started/ where output is for human or animal consumption or goods purchased is wood processed
RBIS – Mandatory Requirements • Attendance at pre-funding workshop • Business Plan • Full planning permission (if applicable)* • Quotations/tenders • Evidence of match funding • Complete an application form * Planning drop-in clinics – Strabane offices – Wednesday 9am to 4.30pm
RBIS – Business Plan New • ‘Go For It’ Programme Business • Enterprise NW/ Strabane Enterprise Agency • Template to be provided Existing (Business Plan Navigator – Business online portal of Enterprise NI - we will email in interim )
Process for applying… (open call) Attend pre-funding workshops – complete expression of interest form If eligible/ready – complete an online database applicant registration Notified when database opens (closed call) – complete application online
RBIS - Match Funding • Own funds, bank loan or other finance/loans e.g. SOURCE DETAILS FOR INFO Start Up Now up to £25,000 Enterprise NI www.eniloans.com Loans For businesses refused by bank Includes mentoring support Ulster Community NI Small Up to £50,000 Investment plc (UCI) Business Unsecured loans www.nisblf.com Loan Fund SMEs and social enterprises Start-up and growth phases UCIT Loans For community/social enterprises Ulster Community Investment Trust Ltd Loans to bridge funding gaps www.ucitltd.com
RBIS - Pre-funding workshops • Proposed timescale – week of 14 th and 21 st March 2016 • Local enterprise agency staff to attend • Will also invite banks/financial institutions • Call likely to open for applications – April 2016 • Minimum of 4 weeks to complete application online • May be a 2 nd call September/October 2016
RBIS - Next steps • Provide your contact details – for notification of pre- funding RBIS workshops dates (will also be advertised) – and for notification of other schemes • Don’t need to wait until RBIS call opens – if eligible start getting investment ready now…. Contact Details: Email: rural.development@derrystrabane.com Telephone: 02871 253253 x 6917 (Hazel Best)
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