Cookstown District Council

Living in Cookstown

Community Services Unit

East Tyrone Rural Ltd. (ETR)

“The success of ETR is a beacon for the rest of Europe"

Job creation at local levels is all about recognising that committed, energetic, local people know best what their communities need.Neither Brussels nor even DARD can beat local expertise.”

(Jan Marinus Wiersma, Vice-President, Socialist Group,  European Parliament)

LEADER  +

Background and Objectives

The Northern Ireland LEADER + Programme is an EU Community Initiative delivered as part of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Development Programme.  The delivery of Leader + has been delegated to Local Action Groups, thereby supporting local communities in their efforts to devise local solutions to issues effecting their areas.  In the Cookstown and Dungannon Districts, the Local Action Group is East Tyrone Rural Ltd.

The objective of the N. Ireland Leader + Programme is:

To increase the economic and employment contribution that very small businesses, including small farms, make to the rural economy by encouraging local partnerships to test out new approaches to micro-business development and, where beneficial, to work in collaboration with similar partnerships in other rural areas.

The Leader + Programme will be delivered with a focus on micro-business development and job creation.  The Local Action Group will identify, target and work proactively with the communities and social groups in their areas that exhibit greatest levels of need and disadvantage.  In particular, it will focus on a number of target groups:

Women

Young People

 Farmers and farm families

 The long-term unemployed

Activities

East Tyrone Rural is a company dedicated to delivering programmes within the combined Council areas of Dungannon and Cookstown, including the Leader + Programme.  ETR has undertaken extensive consultation and has drawn up a business plan which aims to address rural development issues in this area.  The company has evolved from the former Leader II companies of South Tyrone Area Partnership and Cookstown Leader.  As such, ETR can draw on a wide range of experience relating to the diversification of agricultural activities and rural development.  Through its work with the Leader + Programme, ETR has proven to be a first port of call for many farmers and numerous on-farm diversification projects have been identified by ETR.  ETRalso acts as a signposting agency for rural dwellers in need of advice and guidance.

ETR has a budget of £1.9 million to allocate to eligible projects and offers a range of grants to individuals and micro-businesses – all money being allocated on a competitive basis.

ETR have chosen the theme of ‘The Use of New Know-How and New Technology’ as their primary aim.  Whilst ETR accept that it is not necessarily innovative to encourage the use of computers and hi tech equipment in local businesses, it is non the less innovative for those people newly exposed to this technology.  These individuals must learn how to use the equipment and decide to purchase it to improve the competitiveness of their business. The secondary theme chosen by ETR is ‘Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Areas’.  It is felt that this too is important and may be achieved through Programmes which address the primary aim.  With this in mind ETR developed the following strategic aim:

Strategic Aim

‘Through the implementation of innovative and technological opportunities, ETR aim to improve the quality of life, and meet the changing needs of our rural community, with particular emphasis on job creation, maintenance and enhancement and sustainability.’

East Tyrone Rural Ltd. - Programmes

Micro-business Development Programme -

Cookstown and Dungannon Enterprise Centres have been appointed to identify the individual business system needs of small rural businesses, including farms, in the East Tyrone Area and to address these needs within the framework of the Leader + programme.  Tailored support will be provided in the workplace to ensure the efficient use of such systems in order to maximise the potential benefits.  Capital grant-aid to purchase either a computer or specific software will be delivered directly by ETR, in accordance with Leader + regulations. 

The type of support required will be identified by the delivery organisation and agreed with the Board of East Tyrone Rural Ltd.  This may include support with the preparation of Sage accounts, Introduction or Advanced level computers or other relevant systems. To date, 350 businesses have been enrolled, 27 courses have been completed and 197 applicants have secured computers.

Rural Markets Programme -

The delivery of this programme was awarded to Initiative Economic Development with a remit to co-ordinate the activities of at least two markets and to encourage new stallholders to attend.  The aim being to establish a sustainable direct selling market with 20 producers and increase the turnover for fresh local produce.

Capital grant-aid will be delivered directly by ETR to assist producers to develop their on-farm businesses.  The producers have formed a company: ‘Tyrone Farmers’ Market’ and have been assisted by ETR to access funding from the Rural Development Council.  The market has appointed a Project Officer and will expand into Cookstown at ASDA’s car park and also rotate around 6 villages.  30 local primary schools will be involved in a healthy eating project and 15 new producers will be enrolled to the market.     

Expanding your Market Programme –

 

Cookstown Enterprise Centre, working in partnership with Dungannon Enterprise Centre, has been appointed to manage a programme which will encourage 27 small rural businesses to expand their business and enter the export market. This programme was originally targeted at 10 businesses but it has proved to be very successful and the budget has been increased to permit 27 businesses to participate. 

Tourism Promotion and Branding of the East Tyrone Area –

Flavour of Tyrone were appointed to deliver this programme.  It is funded at 50% of eligible costs (the remaining 50% funded by Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council) and is designed to promote the East Tyrone area by adding value to an existing, well established tourism brand in the area.

Small Grants Programme -

Support was given to assist potential applicants to build up their projects so that they can submit quality applications to the East Tyrone Rural Small Grants Programme.   

The programme offers grants to small rural businesses to increase efficiency and profitability, by investing in capital equipment.

Capital Grants are available to purchase fixed equipment at 50% of eligible costs and capped at £20,000 for:

Activity-based tourism projectsEnvironmental schemes - waste management and renewable energiesHealth and Safety improvements.Business expansion/development 

One of the businesses supported by ETR (CK International - an engineering works near Dungannon which specialises in manufacturing waste recycling equipment) won both the best export category award and the overall LEADER + best business award in the 2006 ceremony held in Cookstown

Transnational – Action 2 Programmes

Honey Processing and Marketing Programme:

Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network were appointed to work with the Mid-Ulster Beekeepers Association (24 producers), focusing on training, mentoring and best practice visits to ROI and Macedonia.

Insurance – Reducing Risks Programme:

This is an inter-territorial project (all Northern Ireland LAGs) designed to produce a template that businesses can sign up to so that insurance companies can reduce their charges to them. It is anticipated that up to 25% reductions in insurance charges can be achieved.

Rural Project – Cookstown

In association with Cookstown Western Shores Area Network ETR will carry out a needs analysis, compile a strategic plan and carry out one-to-one mentoring to assist businesses, farmer’s groups, social economy groups and individuals with capacity building, advice, training and accessing funding.  We will host workshops in Loughry, Pomeroy, Stewartstown, Coagh, Ardboe, Kildress and Broughderg and support a minimum of 50 groups/individuals.    

Marketing -

ETR will carry out a marketing programme by 31.07.07, focusing on non-traditional manufacturing and crafts.  This will involve support with training, networking, sharing of resources and signposting. 

As a result of ETR LEADER programmes to date, 333 small rural businesses have been supported with 225 jobs sustained & 186 new jobs created

Application Process -

In common with all Northern Ireland Structural Funds Programmes, all applications for grant will be in two parts and can be accessed through the DFP web site: www.eugrants.org

At this web site, the applicant can access the EAST TYRONE RURAL LEADER + GROUP domain and also the application form for support.

Applicants can also access the East Tyrone Rural Ltd. web site at: www.easttyronerural .co.uk

This web site will permit access to further information and the application form for this Programme. 

Information and application forms for other East Tyrone Rural Programmes may also be accessed at this web site. 

Part A should be completed and submitted electronically to the East Tyrone Rural Leader + Group.  Part B can be submitted by post.

Where an applicant does not have access to a computer or the Internet, East Tyrone Rural Ltd. will provide a paper Part A

An application is only considered as being valid when East Tyrone Rural Ltd. has received both fully completed Parts.  

Further information and assistance can be obtained from:

East Tyrone Rural Ltd.

Gortalowry House                                            Tel/Fax: 028 867 64714

94 Church Street                                              Email:   etr@cookstown.gov.uk

Cookstown                                                     

BT80 8HX