Rural communities and businesses across Northern Ireland are set to receive a significant boost, following the allocation of over £5.28 million in grant funding to more than 2,500 organisations and enterprises during the 2024/2025 period. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the successful distribution of these awards through the department's Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) and the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS).

Minister Muir highlighted the impact of the funding during a recent visit to Richmount Rural Community Association in County Armagh. The Association had received two grants totalling £3,841 from the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme in 2024/2025, specifically aimed at enhancing their Community Centre and improving its energy efficiency. "I am delighted that 1,824 grants totalling £2.94million have been provided to voluntary and community organisations throughout Northern Ireland from the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme," Minister Muir stated. He explained that the RMCGS is a crucial initiative delivered through his Department's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework. It empowers rural community-led, voluntary organisations to identify and implement projects that directly address locally identified issues such as poverty, isolation, loneliness, and health and wellbeing.

The Minister expressed his gratitude: "Richmount Rural Community Association is just one such organisation to have utilised my Department's Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme to develop their services over many years for their local rural community. I express my sincere gratitude to the Association's committee and indeed to all voluntary and community groups across Northern Ireland for their efforts over the years in sustaining and enhancing a wide range of opportunities for people in their local rural communities."

Minister Muir also drew attention to the significant contribution of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. "I also want to take this opportunity to highlight the significant investment of £2.34million from my Department's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework through the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. 695 rural businesses availed of a grant aid opportunity to help them remain sustainable, grow and in many cases create employment opportunities."

Both schemes, he concluded, are important elements of his commitment to cultivating "strong, sustainable, and diverse rural communities where people want to live, work, and invest."