Letters of offer totalling nearly £4m have been issued to businesses and projects in the Newry and Mourne area under the Southern Organisation for action in Rural areas (SOAR) programme. The total figure £3,835,873.20 has seen 119 Letters of Offer sent out to businesses/projects inn the district. This compares very favourably with the total of 211 letters sent out across the SOAR region – which encompasses Newry and Mourne, Craigavon and Armagh council districts. Among the business ventures which SOAR has funded in Newry and Mourne are a confectionary manufacturer, a marquee provider, allotments, a restaurant, a specialised concrete business and a timber products and manufacturer. The £16.7m fund has also boosted projects relating to farm diversification, growing rural businesses, encouraging tourism, developing new rural community services and cultural and local heritage. At present SOAR is calling for funding applications for farm diversification products with the offer open to May 11. As part of the call drop in information sessions have been taking place across the district and the final event taking place on Thursday March 29 at the Downshire Hotel, Hilltown from 6-8pm.
Newry Reporter 28th March 2012
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