Rural Programme assists businesses with £127k grants

Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership provided local businesses Peter Martin Engineering Ltd and AWP Environmental (Ireland) Ltd (T/A Viltra) grant assistance to develop their businesses through the purchase of a range of machinery.

In conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership provided a press brake, flat bed grinding and polishing machine and rotational moulding equipment.

The total grant awarded amounted to £127k along with a significant investment by each of the businesses.

During this time the businesses have collectively created nine full time jobs to ensure they continue to meet demand.

Highlighting the importance of the scheme DAERA Minister Poots said: “Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership have funded 45 rural businesses, creating over 140 jobs across its area of operations, and that funding, which amounts to £1.5m, has helped provide an important economic stimulus for rural economic growth.

“Peter Martin Engineering received grant funding of £52,000 from the NI Rural Development Programme’s Business Investment Scheme to purchase new machinery that allowed it to secure larger contracts, and Viltra received £75,000 from the same scheme to allow it to fit out their factory in Newry thereby allowing them to facilitate the manufacture of tanks and associated products on site.

“I was very pleased to learn how both businesses were successful in obtaining the funding, and I congratulate the owners for their efforts and for contributing their own time and money into these businesses in order to ensure they continue to grow and remain productive and profitable, especially in these challenging times.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council chairperson, councillor Laura Devlin praised the businesses for their commitment during the pandemic.

“I am delighted to see businesses in the district continuing to show their entrepreneurial spirit through ongoing development and progression of their businesses,” she said.

“Throughout the current Covid-19 pandemic it is important that we have strong resilient businesses who can continue to add to the economy and act as leaders in their field.

“I commend Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership in their diligence in the administration of funding gratefully provided by DAERA and the European Union.

“I must also add that it is extremely timely to put the spotlight on such businesses following the launch of the Council’s Economic Development Strategy which has a strong focus on rural businesses and entrepreneurship.”

Chairperson of Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership, councillor Roisin Mulgrew added: “I am delighted to see the progress made by Peter Martin Engineering Ltd and Viltra.

“As a Board we worked extremely hard to ensure the rural businesses across Newry, Mourne and Down availed of the finance that was made available through the Rural Development Programme.

“This financial support has been vital in continuing to sustain and develop rural businesses to continue to be competitive and provide employment in the local area.

“Both Peter Martin and Colm Gribben are fine examples of this as they continue to operate their businesses through the difficult times we find ourselves in.”

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