Tourism Supports Roadshow for SMEs and community groups in Offaly next month
Public information meetings will take place in March in Tullamore, Edenderry, and Birr covering the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands 2023-2026.
At each session, the EU Just Transition Fund Tourism Activator for Offaly, Mary Hensey, will guide attendees through funding available, outlining the various categories eligible for funding by private SMEs and community groups. Ireland's Hidden Heartlands Manager at Failte Ireland, Grainne Cornally, will also be available to address any queries about the funding scheme. Representatives from Visit Offaly including Tourism Officer Olive Farrelly and colleagues from Local Enterprise Office Offaly will outline additional supports and opportunities for Offaly based businesses.
Ms Hensey said: “It is important for Offaly to maximise its share of the €17m earmarked for tourism. I would encourage those interested to come along to these events in Tullamore, Birr, and Edenderry.”
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.
The Tourism Supports Roadshow will take place in the following venues in March:
Tullamore: Tuesday, March 5 - Start time: 7pm, Venue: Tullamore Court Hotel.
Birr: Wednesday, March 13 - Start time: 7pm, Venue: County Arms Hotel.
Edenderry: Wednesday, March 20 - Start Time: 6.30pm, Venue: Edenderry Library.
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.