Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today (Friday 7 March) has announced an estimated £1.8million funding boost over the next three years to regenerate coastal communities.
This is in addition to the £871,000 allocated to four projects altogether in 2012 and 2013 through this fund.
The Coastal Communities Fund aims to support the economic development of coastal communities by promoting sustainable economic growth and jobs, so that people are better able to respond to the changing economic needs and opportunities of their area.
Minister Durkan said: “I urge coastal communities to identify quality projects that would benefit from this fund, particularly projects that promote a sustainable economy, create jobs and tackle disadvantage.
“This fund will enhance regeneration and job creation through investment in tourism, business and the built and natural environments of coastal settlements. It will also promote training and skills development, to enable local people to secure jobs in growing local industries.
“The third round of the Coastal Communities Fund will have three years of budgets combined into a single round. This considerably larger bidding pot allows for more ambition, and I encourage projects of a greater scale which could offer significantly bigger economic impact to apply. What I and DOE are about is building a better environment and a stronger economy. This project will help towards that.”
Application forms for the Coastal Communities Fund are availablexa0on Fridayxa0morning on the BIG FUND website at:
http://www.biglotteryfund.
Closing date for applications isxa030 April 2014.
The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF), which was established by the UK Treasury, supports projects that boost the economic prospects of coastal communities across the UK. The fund for Northern Ireland is managed by the Department of Environment.
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