• Adding Value to Local Products and
• Improving the Quality of Life in rural areas

• To assist the contribution of new or emerging small businesses in the creation or sustaining of employment in the rural area.
• To target particular business sectors to encourage the application of new know how and technology, and add value to local products such as in tourism, activity based recreation, crafts and farm diversification sectors.
• To create opportunities for women, young people, long-term unemployed, farmers and farming families through some innovative action to stimulate and encourage their participation and contribution to the rural economy.

Individual Programmes attract various rates of grant. With the exception of assistance for training (where up to 100% of costs can be awarded), grants of up to 50% of eligible costs are available. For example, if your total eligible project cost is £20,000, you can apply to REAP for a maximum grant of £10,000.  

To be eligible for the LEADER+ programme, the project must be based in a rural ward of the three council areas:

Please note that some of the above wards have concentrated urban areas within them which are not eligible for support.  These include Ballyclare town, Mallusk Industrial Estate (including Mallusk Enterprise Park), Carrickfergus Enterprise and Kilroot Business Park.  For further guidance on location eligibility, please contact the REAP office on 028 9448 1311.

Please note, conventional retail and distributive services are excluded from the LEADER+ programme.