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LEADER
+ and National Rural Development Programme
(NRDP) grant-aid is available to small enterprises, individuals with a business
project and to community groups with either a business or a community beneficial
project, if they meet the programmes rural development criteria. All grant-aid
applications to BNS for either the LEADER + or the NRDP are processed in an identical
manner. Both programmes provide part-funding so applicants are expected to fund
a percentage of any project themselves.
Persons or groups successful
in their application for grant-aid are known as 'project promoters'. In the first
instance of a potential promoter contacting the company to inquire as to the possibility
of aid, that contact is passed to the appropriate development officer who, either
in person or in writing will inform the applicant of their opinion of the the
project idea being eligible for grant-aid. If it is agreed to be suitable, the
development officer will supply the appropriate inquiry/ application form to the
applicant. The promoter is likely to be asked for supporting documentation as
it is relevant to the project, such as two separate quotes for capital or other
works, proof of ownership of property, details of the company's or community group's
structure.
BNS strives to support alternative farm enterprises
| The
Evaluation Process
On
the completion and return of the inquiry form accompanied by the all relevant
documentation required the development officer will prepare the application for
the Board's evaluation committee. This body of 3 - 5 members meet some days before
the BNS Board of Directors meeting and will assess the various applications on
both their formal eligibility to the criteria and their usefulness or sustainability
to BNS's development policy. The committee makes recommendations to the BNS Board.
In many cases a project applicant will be asked to attend the Evaluation Committee
meeting to explain their project and answer questions. The evaluation committee
is independent of BNS and neither BNS Board members or staff has a vote in the
committee's recommendations. | Board
Approval
On foot the Evaluation
Committee's recommendation, the full Board of BNS will take a decision on approving
grant-aid to a project and on the appropriate amount and percentage rate of that
aid. The Board reserves the right to apply further conditions on the award of
aid, above those required by the criteria of the programme in question. Irrespective
of the evaluation reports, the Board of Directors has the final authority on approving
and rejecting grant-aid. There is no right of appeal to any other body or individual.
Following the Board's decision the promoter will be contacted by the development
officer as soon as possible and informed of the decision and of the general conditions
attached. Usually this contact is made within a matter of some days. Following
this initial informal contact, a formal 'letter of offer' will be posted to the
successful applicant informing them of the decision of the Board and explaining
the major conditions attached to approval. | |
