Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 Accelerated Measure in response to COVID 19

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Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 Accelerated Measure in response to COVID 19

 

The Department of Rural and Community Development has announced the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020. In addition to the standard scheme, there is a focus on immediate interventions that can be delivered in the short-term (before the end of 2020) to assist towns and villages to adapt to COVID-19, aiding the economic and social recovery of towns and villages.

 

The stand-alone Measure will provide accelerated support for towns and villages to adapt to public health requirements such as social distancing in the short term, and to encourage increased footfall in our towns and villages as we re-open society and business.

 

The Accelerated Measure will provide funding of up to €25,000 per project, increasing to €40,000 for higher impact projects. There are two funding rounds of the Accelerated Measure with closing dates for applications to the Department of 03 July 2020 and 14 August 2020.  A maximum of 5 applications per local authority can be submitted per funding round. Only 1 application for the higher funding limit of €40,000 can be submitted per funding round. Those towns/villages that were successful under Round 1 shall not be eligible to apply under Round 2. The rate of grant aid will be a maximum of 90% of project costs.

 

Applications should be developed in consultation with community and business interests including Town Teams, Chamber of Commerce (or similar) and community organisations as appropriate.

 

The Accelerated Measure provides Local Authorities with flexibility to design and deliver solutions to the challenges introduced by COVID-19 based on the situation pertaining in their own area. These solutions can be tailored to individual towns/villages or an individual project might provide the same solution for a number of towns/villages. Innovative and novel solutions are encouraged.

 

The following list is provided as a non-exhaustive indicative list of the types of interventions which might be considered by Local Authorities. The examples are provided as a guide only.

 

Measures to deal with Social Distancing requirements:

  • The provision of equipment or carrying out of works to temporarily repurpose or pedestrianise public areas to facilitate on street/outdoors trading and/or to make these areas temporarily weather-proof by the use of marquees, awnings etc.
  • Adaptation of heritage/community buildings to accommodate multiple local businesses to sell their products and services, in line with public health guidance pertaining to COVID-19.
  • Development of a central online platform for a town or village where consumers can continue to “shop local” by virtually visiting the shops in a town or village through a single website.
  • Provision of local centralised drive-through facilities for items purchased online or over the phone.

 

Measures to encourage increased footfall:

  • Collectivised branding/marketing of towns or villages through both traditional and social media channels.
  • Capital expenditure associated with festivals or smaller-scale events later in the year when public health guidelines allow.
  • Painting and improving shop front facades and other minor public realm improvements (seating, planting/landscaping, deep clean of public areas etc.).
  • Investment in adapting public areas, footpaths etc. to make them accessible to all ages and all abilities.

 

Types of activities that will not be supported

  • Projects with a completion timeframe of more than 6 months should generally be submitted through the standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme (application deadline date 28th Aug 2020).
  • Ongoing Operational Costs – projects should, in the main, be of a capital nature and ongoing operational costs will need to be met from own funds.
  • Support for a single private enterprise – projects that collectively assist private enterprises within a town or village are eligible.

 

Link to full details of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme COVID-19 Accelerated Measure https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ed9cd-minister-ring-announces-15-million-for-economic-recovery-in-rural-towns-and-villages/

Please contact your local Municipal District Co-ordinator to discuss potential projects for submission to this scheme as early as possible:

  • Ballybay/Clones Municipal District Office – 047 51018
  • Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District Office – 042 9661236
  • Monaghan Municipal District Office – 047 73777