You’re cordially invited to join us at our Public Information meetings happening throughout March in Tullamore, Edenderry, and Birr. At each session, Mary Hensey, the EU Just Transition Fund Tourism Activator for Offaly, will guide you through the funding scheme, outlining the various categories eligible for funding by private SMEs and community groups. Additionally, Grainne Cornally, the Manager for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Failte Ireland, will be available to address any inquiries you may have about the funding scheme.
Olive Farrelly, Offaly Tourism Officer, shall attend the sessions, along with a representative from Offaly Local Enterprise Board who will outline their available supports for businesses.
Tullamore: Date: 5th (Tues), Start time: 7pm, Venue: Tullamore Court Hotel.
Birr: Date: 13th (Wed), Start time: 7pm, Venue: County Arms Hotel.
Edenderry: Date: 20th (Wed), Start Time: 6.30pm, Venue: Edenderry Library.
The EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026 offers up to €17 million in grant aid for private and community-based micro-enterprises and SMEs in the broader Midlands region. The scheme aims to revitalize tourism across eight counties in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East by diversifying the local economy and creating new job opportunities for communities previously reliant on peat.
This initiative, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, supports regions affected by the transition away from fossil fuel-intensive industries like peat-based energy generation.
Under the Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private & Community SMEs, eligible projects fall into five categories:
- Category 1: Development or Enhancement of Sustainable Visitor Experiences
- Category 2: Development of Sustainable/Low Carbon Tourist Accommodation
- Category 3: Capital Project Planning & Design
- Category 4: Digital Transformation
- Category 5: Accessibility enhancements to provide a more inclusive visitor experience.
Offaly to maximise its share of the 17m earmarked for Tourism.
EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme
The purpose of the Investment Grant-Aid Scheme is to deliver grant-aid to private and community-based micro enterprises and SMEs to help them improve the quality of the visitor experience within the EU Just Transition Territory. The ambition is to attract more visitors, increase dwell time, and secure overnight stays. This will create new jobs in the sector and help grow the visitor economy.
Private and community-based micro enterprises and SMEs can find scheme guidelines, useful toolkits and how to register their interest in the scheme at www.failteireland.ie.