Initiatives to assist Community Development

Community Development Initiatives

Some examples of Community Development Initiatives are:

Leader Plus: Leader Plus is an EU-funded initiative for rural development, helping communities implement business plans based on their priorities. Communities must form a partnership group with local interests, the private sector, and state agencies. Projects must be innovative, model-worthy, and transferable. Funding areas include local environment preservation, IT projects, and small food projects.
Area Partnership Companies: Area Partnership Companies address long-term unemployment by developing local enterprises in disadvantaged urban areas. They include representatives from community groups, state bodies, local employers, and trade unions. Projects should not harm existing businesses. Funded by the EU and Irish Government, these partnerships offer services such as further education, grants, and mentoring for start-ups. Examples include the Ballymun and Tallaght Partnerships, promoting collective problem-solving and empowering disadvantaged individuals.

SOLAS schemes: SOLAS is the state's training and employment agency, focusing on skills training and unemployment reduction. The Community Enterprise Scheme supports local groups in setting up enterprises, providing training, business advice, recruitment assistance, and preparing business plans and feasibility studies.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs): Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) support small enterprises within their county. They coordinate local development with state agencies and community groups. To support an entrepreneur, a LEO ensures there is a market, adequate financing, management skills, and job creation potential. Services include business ideas, market research and training, feasibility study grants, and financing for fixed assets.

*Local Enterprise Offices support community development *