Press Release for Immediate Release – 3rd June 2020

Call for innovative projects for Counties Towns & Villages for enhanced Town & Village Scheme 2020.
Carlow County Council is calling on community groups , business representative organisations and interested parties to be part of the call for innovative projects under the two measures for the Town & Village Renewal Scheme 2020 launched by Minister Ring last week.
Launched in 2016 , the scheme supports the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people, through projects that will have a viable, long-term benefit. Speaking about the scheme , Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive with Carlow County Council said “County Carlow has benefited significantly from the Town & Village Renewal Scheme since its inception in 2016 with 31 projects approved receiving in excess of €3m in support to Rural County Carlow communities” , Holohan continued to say “we are always delighted to see the passion that rural communities have for the development of the projects under this scheme and we hope that in 2020 this passion will continue with the roll out of the traditional scheme and also the accelerated scheme designed to help Town & Village Centres with the challenges around Covid-19”
The Town & Village Standard Scheme provides funding of up to €200,000 for a broad range of strategic proposals in towns and villages. This year, these strategic interventions will place a particular emphasis on the economic and social recovery of our towns and villages. A second accelerated scheme is also available in 2020 to provide 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 their towns and villages as we re-open society and business. The measure will provide funding of up to €25,000 per project, increasing to €40,000 for higher impact projects.
Commenting on the scheme , Kieran Comerford , Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office said, “over the coming weeks the team will provide support to Towns and villages in applying for both schemes with an information and project development session being held on 9th June 2020 for interested parties in both schemes”. Comerford continued to comment that “our role in this scheme is to enable communities to deliver solutions for themselves by a variety of projects which support the social and economic fabric of our communities in a measured way”
Welcoming the scheme , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council , Cllr. John Pender said “I urge communities to get involved in the Town & Village scheme for 2020 and to submit innovative ideas and to avail of the support of the executive of Carlow County Council in ensuring that County Carlow gets the resources available from this scheme” , Pender continued to say “As Cathaoirleach I am delighted with the track record of Carlow County Council in these Rural Schemes and supporting our Rural Communities is essential in these challenging times”.