The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD, announced funding of €67,777 for the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) 2020 which supports disadvantaged communities throughout the country by providing capital grants to community groups.
This has been a popular scheme and has been over subscribed other years. We will anticipate that grants will not exceed €500 per applicant.
The CEP provides a flexible and targeted approach to funding those communities most in need, while reducing the level of administration involved.
Minister Ring said: “The Community Enhancement Programme supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, such as childcare groups, playgrounds, recreational groups, sports grounds, landscaping, and the elderly.
“Typical enhancements under the programme could include the renovation of community centres and community amenities; improvements to town parks, common areas and spaces; and the purchase of equipment which is used to benefit the community.
Closing date for applications is 12 noon 15th July, 2020.
Application form and guidance notes are below.
Community Enhancement Application Form 2020
Community Enhancement Guidelines 2020
Who is eligible to apply?
Any not-for-profit community or voluntary group can apply. Commercial organisations and individuals are not eligible for funding.
What projects are eligible for funding?
This funding is targeted towards enhancing community facilities for individuals and communities that are impacted by disadvantage (as identified in the local economic community plan).
The following are some examples of capital projects that could receive funding under the programme:
- Development/renovation of community centres
- Once off maintenance of premises. This does not include regular routine maintenance
- Community amenities
- Development of youth clubs or facilities
- Development of sports/recreation facilities
- Improvements to town parks and common areas and spaces
- CCTV equipment
- Public realm improvements
- Streetscaping
- Development of play/recreation spaces
- Energy efficiency type projects
- Purchase of equipment
- Adaptations or equipment needed as a result of COVID-19
- and many other capital projects
The funding covers capital projects only. In cases where both current and capital works are carried out together, only the capital element can be funded through this programme.
Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on 15th July 2020
Source: https://www.tipperarycoco.ie/community-and-economic-development/community-enhancement-programme-2020
