Wexford Local Development CEO, Brian Kehoe
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES throughout the county are set to benefit, following the announcement that €300,000 in LEADER programme grant aid is set to be made available.
Wexford Local Development (WLD) announced details of the funding recently, outlining that €100,000 will be targeted, respectively, at each of three separate categories.
These are: the development of walking trails; community arts and culture projects and youth facilities.
Commenting on the announcement, WLD Chief Executive Officer Brian Kehoe highlighted how the grant aid presents a big opportunity for urban and rural communities throughout County Wexford.
“The new LEADER Programme will see a substantial investment of several million euro into community organisations in County Wexford between now and 2020,” he said.
Under the previous LEADER programme, WLD provided significant support to the development of community-based walking trails in County Wexford.
“We see huge potential to develop a niche tourism product selling rural Wexford as an attractive destination for walking trails and this allocation of €100,000 for the further development of walking trails will benefit both tourist and locals alike.”
With County Wexford home to one of the most community-based arts and culture scenes on the country, WLD is keen to encourage its further development.
“We want to play our part in recognising and encouraging community activists who are making County Wexford a centrepiece of arts and culture,” Mr. Kehoe said.
The local development company will also provide support to the youth of County Wexford through the new LEADER programme, with €100,000 in grant aid being made available for youth facilities.
Through public consultations, local people expressed their desire to see more facilities being developed to engage with the county’s younger residents and to provide social, training and recreational outlets for them.
Mr. Kehoe said “I want to encourage any community-based organisation involved in the development of walking trails, art and culture or youth facilities to take advantage of the opportunity we are presenting to them and to submit an expression of interest for LEADER grant aid.
Expression of interest forms for community-based walking trails, arts and culture projects and youth facilities are now available to download from the ‘forms & publications’ section of the WLD website.
The closing date for receipt of completed forms is midday on Tuesday March 7th.
Read more in the Wexford Echo.