Ahoghill business success highlights final chance to secure rural grants of up to £7,500
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Anna Tait, owner of Ahoghill based business EJs Country Kitchen who had secured grant funding from an earlier round of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme.
An Ahoghill family-run food business that expanded its kitchen and introduced new dining experiences with the help of a rural development grant is being highlighted as more local businesses are encouraged to apply for funding of up to £7,500.
EJs Country Kitchen is among the businesses to have benefited from the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme, and with applications for the latest round closing on Thursday 30 July, eligible rural micro-businesses across Mid and East Antrim are being urged not to miss the opportunity.
Delivered locally by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme, the scheme provides capital funding to help rural businesses invest in equipment, technology and future growth.
Businesses wishing to apply must first attend a mandatory pre-application workshop, with the final online session taking place via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 23 July at 1pm.
Funding to help rural businesses invest and grow
The scheme offers capital grants of between £500 and £7,500 for eligible projects with a total value of up to £30,000.
Applicants must provide the remaining match funding, while successful projects can use the grant towards:
new capital equipment and machinery
computer equipment
computer software
e-commerce websites
The scheme is open to existing rural micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 full-time staff. Mainstream agricultural activity is not eligible for support.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Anna Tait, owner of Ahoghill based business EJs Country Kitchen who had secured grant funding from an earlier round of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, encouraged eligible businesses to take advantage of the funding.
“This scheme is an opportunity to help you put into motion a project that is currently beyond your reach. The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme aims to support local businesses while tackling poverty within rural communities.
“It is a chance for you to get financial support to sustain and grow your business. I encourage local rural micro-businesses with a project in need of support to get in touch and we will help you through the process.”
Grant helped Ahoghill business expand
EJs Country Kitchen, based in Ahoghill and attached to Hillstown Farm Shop, secured funding through an earlier round of the scheme to expand its kitchen facilities.
The investment enabled the family-run business to increase its range of food options while introducing regular bistro nights and seasonal events alongside its breakfast, lunch and home-baked menu.
Owner Anna Tait said:
“The opportunity to increase the range of equipment in the kitchen means I can offer more food options. My family-run business is a restaurant attached to Hillstown Farm Shop, and I love providing wholesome food to my customers.
“The focus for me is on simple, fresh food using local ingredients. This investment allows me to offer regular bistro nights and seasonal events in addition to breakfast, lunch, and home-baked treats.”
How to apply
Businesses interested in applying, or registering for the mandatory workshop, can contact Mid and East Antrim Borough Council by emailing rdp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or calling 028 2563 3266.
More information, including eligibility criteria and application details, is available at:
With the application deadline now just days away, eligible rural businesses planning to invest in new equipment, improve their digital capability or expand their operations are being encouraged to register for the final workshop and submit their applications before 12 noon on Thursday 30 July.
