Rural Business Grants of up to £7,500
Capital grants up to a maximum of 50% grant rate are available to existing micro enterprises based in a rural area to support them to recover, sustain or grow through DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme. Grant aid of between £500 and £7,500 is available for projects costing up to £30,000. The scheme will open for applications on Monday 29th June 2026 and close on the Thursday 30th July 2026 at 12 noon. Any micro business based in the rural areas of Lisburn, Castlereagh and Belfast should register their interest.
A micro business is a business with less than 10 employees.
You can apply for:
Grant aid is available for a range of capital items to help your business recover, become sustainable or to grow and diversify. Eligible items include:
- computer equipment
- e-commerce websites
- new equipment/ machinery
- mobile machinery, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, push and ride-on lawn mowers, mini excavators
Please go the following link for further guidance on eligibility and for an online application, which can be accessed here.
Is my business based in a rural area?
Rural areas are those with less than 5,000 residents and outside of designated urban areas. The scheme cannot support businesses based within the urban limits of Lisburn, Belfast, Dundonald or Carryduff.
If you’re unsure if your business location is eligible please ask for further details.
Rural Business Development Grant Scheme Workshop dates:
As part of the application process, all applicants must attend one workshop.
The workshops will take place online via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:
- Friday 3 July 2026, 10am–11am
- Monday 6 July 2026, 2.30pm–3.30pm
- Friday 10 July 2026, 10am–11am
- Thursday 16 July 2026, 2.30pm–3.30pm
- Wednesday 22 July 2026, 10am–11am
- Tuesday 28 July 2026, 10am–11am
To register, email grant.programmes@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or call 028 9244 7391. A Teams link will be issued following registration.
How do I apply?
The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme will open for applications from Monday 29th June 2026. All applications must be received by Thursday 30th July at 12 noon.
Further details regarding eligibility and how to apply online are available in the guidance notes, which can be accessed here.
You can also contact our programmes team by email: lmp@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or phone 028 9244 7391