On Monday 3rd May 2021, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced €15 million in funding to help revitalise rural towns and villages post Covid-19.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is designed to breathe new life into rural communities – making them more attractive places to live, work, socialise and raise a family.

The initiative is a key part of “Our Rural Future” – the Government’s five year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland.

The measures that will be supported by the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme include:

• Tackling dereliction in town centres
• Turning vacant properties into remote working and community spaces
• Supporting Local Authorities to run innovative marketing campaigns targeted at attracting remote workers to their county
• Investing in green spaces, parks and recreational amenities
• Upgrading and improving shop fronts & streetscapes on Main Streets
• Projects that support and enhance the night time economy and add vibrancy to town centres

Please note that under the 2021 T&V Scheme, footpath development/improvement projects or similar will not be supported.  Any EOI’s received for the development of footpaths will not be considered under this scheme.

Expressions of Interest are to be submitted to the Community Department, Meath County Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 Y291 or by email communitygrants@meathcoco.ie.

TV21 scheme outline – pdf

2021 TV Expression of Interest form – word

The closing date for the receipt of Expressions of Interest is, Wednesday 16th June 2021.

Following the launch of “Our Rural Future” earlier this year there has been some changes to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Our Rural Future will see increased investment out to 2025 in remote working infrastructure to provide an opportunity for people to continue to live in rural communities while following their career ambitions. It will also see continued investment to support town centre living. It will ensure cross government investment to support rural towns and villages as hubs of economic and social activity.

Scheme Focus:

Following the launch of Our Rural Future, TVRS objectives are being refocused to align with commitments within the Policy. The 2021 Scheme will prioritise tackling vacancy in towns and villages, remote working and supporting town centre living. Other projects which will be welcomed include regeneration projects that support active and vibrant town or village centres, upgrading shopfronts and street facades, and green spaces and parks, etc.

Please note & as set out in the attached document under the T&V Scheme “Footpath development/improvement projects or similar will not be supported”.  Any EOI’s received for the development of footpaths will not be considered under this scheme.

Grant Levels:

For the 2021 Scheme, the minimum grant which is available is €20,000. The maximum level of grant funding available is being raised to €500,000 in respect of one application from each Local Authority. A maximum of €250,000 will apply in respect of 2 applications and €100,000 in respect of 4 applications. 2 applications must be in respect of Towns/Villages that have not previously received funding under the Standard Town & Village Renewal Scheme.  A new Project Development Measure (up to €50,000) is being introduced this year. This Measure is being introduced on a trial basis in response to requests from Local Authorities for such an intervention.

Categories of Towns:

Larger towns with a population of up to 15,000 people may be eligible under certain circumstances. The inclusion of these towns is being introduced on a trial basis in 2021 and will be reviewed thereafter.