€30,000 funding announced for three Westmeath towns

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today Friday announced a new initiative to support Town Teams.

The first Town Team Support Fund will deliver funding for communities that have never had Town Team befores. The investment will also assist towns that are recently established.

The funding can be used to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established, and to better understand the unique features of towns.

The projects will be managed by the DRCD-funded Town Regeneration Officers across the country.

Cllr Emily Wallace said: “I’m delighted with the announcement of the first ever dedicated investment in our Town Teams. This will provide vital funding for my own local town of Rochfortbridge, with Kinnegad and Kilbeggan also to be supported with €10,000 in funding per town.

“This is all about tackling vacancy, combatting dereliction and breathing new life into our towns and villages.

“Town Teams are key to rural regeneration and I am delighted that this funding will support the development of these teams and the creation of teams where they currently don’t exist.

“Among other things, these Town Teams play a vital role in helping communities access the wide range of funding available from the Department under various schemes”.

“I look forward to working with the town teams in my district to ensure future investment for our communities, to ensure we have vibrant places to live in, work in, visit, and raise a family in.”