Rural Business Development Grant Scheme

The new Rural Business Development Grant Scheme is now OPEN. The Scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair’s, (DAERA) and administered by Newry Mourne and Down District Council on behalf of the Department. 

Rural business development grants of up to £7,500 are available to micro enterprises based in a rural area to support the sustainability and growth of rural micro-businesses across Northern Ireland by providing a small capital grant for the business. Applicants to the Scheme will be required to provide a minimum of 50% match-funding.

To make an application to the RBDGS 25/26 Scheme applicants are required to have a verified NI Direct account at Level of Assurance 2 (LOA2).

To Apply

To register and make an application to the scheme please click HERE

Anyone interested in applying must attend one of the compulsory Pre-Funding Workshops which will available on-line or in-person. Applications from individuals who have not attended a workshop will not be considered for funding.

Pre-Funding Workshops

On-Line Sessions

• Thursday 2 October at 5pm OR
• Tuesday 7 October at 5pm OR
• Tuesday 14 October at 5pm

In-Person Sessions

• Friday 3 October at 12.30pm, Saintfield Leisure Centre, 29 Belfast Road, Saintfield BT24 7EP
  OR
• Wednesday 8 October 2pm, Men’s Shed, 16 The Square, Rostrevor, Newry BT34 3AZ

To Register

To register for a place on any of the workshops please email: rdp.admin@nmandd.org   

Application Closing Date

The deadline for applications is 12noon on Thursday 30 October 2025.