Issue 101 - Lisburn BT25 • BT26 •BT27 •BT28 • BT29
Help your business soar in 2024 Another round of Small Settlements funding has been launched for businesses in Lisburn and Castlereagh. The grant funding of up to £30,000 can be used across a range of sectors in villages with a population of between 1,000 and 4,999 people. These include Aghalee; Annahilt; Ballinderry; Dromara; Drumbeg; Glenavy; Royal Hillsborough; Maghaberry; Milltown; Moira and Moneyreagh. The Small Settlements Rural Investment Fund is available to anyone who wants to start a new business in a currently vacant property, as well as for existing businesses who want to expand into an unused area of their property. For businesses wishing to give their shopfronts a facelift, funding is available through the Heritage Shopfront Scheme and Rural Shopfront Scheme. 75 businesses are currently benefitting from the Small Settlements business support fund to date including Ivan Major, owner of Karibu coffee shop in The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Gowan performed the tree-planting ceremony and was accompanied by the council’s veterans’ champion, Alderman James Tinsley and Diane Watson (Greenfinches).
Tree planted in Lisburn’s Castle Gardens honours Greenfinches for their service A special tree was planted in Lisburn recnetly in honour of the local women who served in the Ulster Defence Regiment and were known by the codeword, ‘Greenfinches’. The UDR was set up as a men-only regiment, but women were allowed to join its ranks in 1973. To mark that 50th anniversary, it was agreed a Japanese Maple would be planted in Lisburn’s Castle Gardens, following a
special thanksgiving service which was held in the city in November 2023. The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Gowan performed the tree-planting ceremony and was accompanied by the council’s veterans’
champion, Alderman James Tinsley and Diane Watson (Greenfinches). C o u n c i l l o r Gowan said: “The Greenfinches played a critical role in the UDR and put their lives on the line to serve and protect against
the evils of terrorism. As we know, four Greenfinches paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Troubles between 1974 and 1984.
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Hillsborough, who received funding through both the Rural Investment Fund and the Heritage Shopfront Scheme. The grants helped him convert a previously vacant unit into a modern and welcoming coffeeshop. The closing date for Expressions of Interest to either the Rural Investment Fund, Heritage Shopfront Scheme or the Rural Shopfront Scheme is Friday 22nd March 2024 at 5pm. For more information about each of these schemes, email Mary Kerr at mary.kerr@ lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk The Rural Investment Fund, Rural Shopfront Scheme and Heritage Shopfront Scheme are part of LCCC’s Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme, funded through the Department for Communities, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Infrastructure.