13/03/2013

Funding Announced For Coastal Communities

Environment Minister Alex Attwood has announced a half a million pound funding boost to regenerate coastal communities and urged relevant projects to apply.

This is in addition to the £425,000 that was allocated to two community groups in 2012 through the fund.

The Coastal Communities Fund for Northern Ireland is designed to support the economic development of coastal communities and will support a wide range of projects, including those that support charities, the environment, education and health.

Mr Attwood said: "I urge coastal communities to identify quality projects that would benefit from this fund, particularly projects that promote regeneration and investment, develop renewable energy, improve skills and employment and safeguard the environment. The fund is also available to assist with those projects that focus on tackling deprivation or disadvantage and improving the built environment, particularly dereliction.

"Over the last 12 months, I have held a series of 'Good Beach Summits'. Part of their ambition is coastal development. This funding is part of that agenda."

The Learning to Grow project, based in Magheramorne on the shores of Larne Lough, used its grant of £158,465 from Round 1 of the funding to set up Northern Ireland’s first social enterprise water-bottling facility. The project extracts and bottles water from a local well, using carbon neutral processes such as green energy supply, recycled biodegradable bottles and recycled material for labels. Known as the Water Wheel project, it has created seven new jobs becoming a community activity hub to create local jobs and activity.

The Glenarm Buildings Preservation Trust received a grant of £265,000 to regenerate and bring back to life the 124-year old former school as a visitor attraction and tourist activity centre.

(CD)

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