Funding your site

Most towns can fund this from a grant.

Here are the routes towns have used for community digital projects, in plain English. None of them is a sure thing, but most towns will find at least one that fits.

Get the free funding pack

Routes to explore

For each one: who applies, what it usually covers, how a website fits, and who to ask.

Schemes and rules change every year. Check with your council’s Town Regeneration Officer or LEADER company before applying.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

A national scheme, run through local councils, for projects that make towns and villages better places to live, work and visit. Cootehill.ie was funded under TVRS in 2020.

Who applies
Usually the local council, working with a community group in the town.
Typical amounts
Check the current scheme. Amounts and match-funding rules change from year to year.
How a website fits
A town website can sit within a wider project to promote the town, support local business or encourage people to visit.
Check with
Your council’s Town Regeneration Officer or community section.

Town Centre First: Town Team Support Fund

Support for Town Teams to get going and deliver early actions from their Town Centre First plan.

Who applies
A Town Team, usually with the support of the council’s Town Regeneration Officer.
Typical amounts
Check the current scheme.
How a website fits
Town Centre First plans need public engagement and a way to show progress. A site with surveys, a projects board and a business directory is a ready-made deliverable.
Check with
Your council’s Town Regeneration Officer.

LEADER 2023–2027

The EU and national rural development programme, run locally by Local Development Companies. One of its themes is “Optimising Digital Connectivity”.

Who applies
Community groups and not-for-profits in rural areas, through their Local Development Company.
Typical amounts
Check with your LEADER company. Grant rates and limits depend on the project type.
How a website fits
A community website that connects residents, businesses and visitors can fit the digital theme.
Check with
Your Local Development Company (LEADER company). They’ll often help you shape the application.

Tidy Towns grant rounds

Grant rounds open to Tidy Towns committees from time to time, through councils and national programmes.

Who applies
Registered Tidy Towns committees.
Typical amounts
Check the current scheme.
How a website fits
A projects board, volunteer sign-up and before-and-after photos support the committee’s work and its application. Check whether websites are eligible in the current round.
Check with
Your council’s environment or community section.

Local Enhancement Programme

Small grants for community groups, run through each county’s Local Community Development Committee.

Who applies
Community and voluntary groups.
Typical amounts
Check the current scheme.
How a website fits
This one is mainly for capital costs and equipment, so a website may or may not be eligible. Check before you apply.
Check with
Your Local Community Development Committee, through the council.

Council community grants and local sponsorship

Many councils run their own community grants. Local businesses are often glad to sponsor a site that sends customers their way.

Who applies
Community groups, with businesses or the credit union as sponsors.
Typical amounts
Check with your council. Sponsorship is up to you and your sponsors.
How a website fits
Good for covering the whole cost, or for topping up another grant.
Check with
Your council’s community section, and local businesses.

Schemes and rules change every year. Check with your council’s Town Regeneration Officer or LEADER company before applying. This page is a starting point, not advice on whether you’ll be funded.

Get the free funding pack

Tell us about your town and the scheme you’re looking at. We’ll send you:

  • A formal quote
  • A one-page project description
  • Outcomes wording you can drop into the application form
Ask for the funding pack

Let’s talk about your town.

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