Do you operate a micro business? (i.e. do you employ less than 10 employees)
Is your business based in a rural area? (a rural area is defined as an area with a population of less than 5,000 residents and outside designated urban areas of Magherafelt, Dungannon, Cookstown and Coalisland).
If so you may be eligible to apply for funding under the Rural Business Development Grants Scheme.
Do you need a new e-commerce website?
With this grant you can get half of your e-commerce website cost covered. By giving a small capital grant to smaller rural enterprises in Northern Ireland, this scheme intends to promote their long-term viability, rehabilitation, and development. Funding for this Scheme is provided through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
You Can Apply For This Scheme If:
- If you are an established, registered private business or social economy enterprise that is currently trading commercially, you can apply for a Rural Business Development Grant by supplying your self-assessment number or Limited Company data, as well as sales turnover information.
- If you have not applied for and received funds under the TRPSI Rural Business Development Grants Scheme in 2021.
- Your company presently employs fewer than ten full-time employees (based on full time 30 hours per week and part time at least 16 hours per week). * A full-time employee is required to work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Part-time workers must work a minimum of 16 hours per week.
What The Grant Money Can Be Used For:
The money can be used to apply for a number of different things including an E-commerce Website to allow online purchase capabilities.
Level of Support Offered:
Capital grants are available for up to £4,999 and are based on 50% of qualified spending. The minimum grant amount that can be submitted for is £500, thus the overall project cost must be at least £1,000. The total cost of the project must exceed £20,000.
Pre-Application Workshop:
You must must attend a virtual pre-application workshop before applying for the Scheme. The goal of the workshop is to clarify the application procedure so that you can make sure you’re following it correctly. Only if you have attended a workshop will your application be considered. There will be a variety of dates to choose from, as shown below: 
Application Form
Application forms will be made available to anyone who attends the pre-application workshop. This is a competitive process with limited funding available therefore it may not be possible to fund all applications. Grants awarded will be determined on the base of merit.
To apply for an E-Commerce website through Gekkoshot please fill out the form below:
Rural Grant Enquiry
