Community Finance Ireland has announced a €10 million All-Island Recovery Loan fund, its first all-island loan scheme. The fund will offer flexible loans of €10,000-€500,000 to community sector organisations including faith-based groups, sports clubs and social enterprises in Roscommon.
Between 2016 and 2020, Community Finance Ireland financed loans to the value of €2.4 million for organisations in Connacht, including Strokestown Playschool and Strokestown Community Development Association in Roscommon.
Commenting on the launch, Anne Graham (Client Executive Manager at Community Finance Ireland) said: “Throughout the pandemic we witnessed the incredible resilience of the community sector, with many pivoting their offerings and exploring new opportunities for development. The All-Island Recovery Loan fund is open to organisations that want to build on these new opportunities to recover, rebuild or reimagine what they can bring to their local community.
“Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and public health restrictions, our client portfolios performed well over the past year and at Community Finance Ireland, we have nothing but confidence in the sector and its ability to play a pivotal role in bringing our local communities back together and to create something new in response to the changes our communities have undergone during the past year.
“The new recovery fund supports the strategic priorities outlined in ‘Our Rural Future’, launched by the Government earlier this year, which aims to transform the quality of life and opportunity for people living in rural areas.
“The All-Island Recovery Loan fund supports longer term loans plus short term bridging loans. There are no time restrictions around funding and we will respond to applications within 48 hours of receipt”.
