Roscommon LEADER Partnership are inviting applications from local social enterprises for the Small Capital Grants Scheme, announced this week by Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development.
The scheme will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 for equipment, repairs and refurbishments which will enable social enterprises to improve their service.
The scheme is an initiative under the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2018-2022, which the Minister published in July, and will be administered through the Local Development Companies.
CEO of Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Martina Earley said: “Along with all Local Development Companies throughout Ireland, our staff have been supporting social enterprises through SICAP, LEADER and other programmes for many years and this new fund will give the sector a significant boost, particularly by assisting early stage projects that have huge capacity for positive social impact”.
Announcing the scheme, Minister Ring stated that one of the main objectives of the ‘National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022’, is to grow and strengthen social enterprises.
“The new small capital grants scheme will support over 100 social enterprises through funding of €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 to enable social enterprises to make small equipment purchases, or to carry out refurbishments to their premises to help them to improve their service delivery.
“The scheme will be of particular interest to smaller or start-up social enterprises which do not necessarily have the capacity to compete for larger grants”.
Full details of the Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises, including applications forms and guidelines, are available by checking www.roscommonleaderpartnership.ie.
All applications must be received by Roscommon LEADER Partnership by 3 pm on Monday, November 11th. While Roscommon LEADER Partnership will administer the fund, all decisions on grant awards will be made by the Department of Rural & Community Development. It is expected that applicants will be notified of the results of their application by the Department of Rural and Community Development by December 11th.
