Fermanagh and Omagh has delivered £8.3 million of the LEADER element within the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP).
Funded by the Northern Ireland government and the EU, Fermanagh and Omagh Local Action Group is one of ten LAGs across Northern Ireland and has been allocated a budget of approximately £8.3million to support rural communities in Fermanagh and Omagh.
The £8.3m will be available for small and micro businesses, local councils and the community/voluntary sector to develop rurally based projects.
The emphasis will be on job creation, social inclusion and poverty reduction in rural areas.
Rural Minister Michelle McIlveen has welcomed the progress made, as she spent the day speaking in Fermanagh engaging with farmers and various business enterprises.
Miss McIlveen met with the Board of Fermanagh and Omagh Local Action Group (LAG) in Enniskillen today where she handed over ‘Letters of Offer’ to two local rural businesses each worth £30,000.
Rural benefits
She said: "The LEADER Programme provides an £8.3million investment opportunity for the Fermanagh and Omagh Council area towards the creation of rural jobs, the development of rural infrastructure for a range of community services and ensuring the sustainability of our rural communities.
"One of my key objectives is to ensure we support rural businesses to grow and create employment opportunities.
"I am therefore delighted to hand over ‘Letters of Offer’, each to the value of £30,000, to Paul Donnelly of DIFCO Ltd, Carrickmore, County Tyrone and Jake McCoy of Re-Kurr NI Ltd, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh to expand each of their respective rural businesses.”
Barry Boyle, Chairperson of Fermanagh and Omagh Local Action Group who are tasked with the delivery of the Programme, looked forward to seeing the vital funding reaching the projects on the ground.
He commented: "The Local Action Group involves local people making decisions on programme delivery and ensuring that the investment available responds to local needs.
"This funding is a welcome boost in the current economic climate, and provides opportunities for new and existing micro and small enterprises to grow and contribute further to the rural economy and improving the quality of life in rural areas."
