Ulster Unionist party leader, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the grant awards of more than £3m to 18 companies in the agri- food industry and particularly pleased that a number of local companies, Gilfresh Produce, Loughgall; Fivemiletown Creamery & Cloughbane Farm Foods of Dungannon have benefited from the Rural Development Programme and Marketing Grant Scheme.
Tom said: “The Agri- Food industry is one of the key economic drivers for theNorthern Irelandeconomy and despite the current economic climate, this sector continues to grow (8.3% increase from last year). I trust this funding will help these companies to prosper and grow; and invest in new buildings, plant and equipment and help secure or indeed increase employment opportunities in the future. Under the PMG scheme the maximum grant is 0.5m and the maximum grant rate is 40%, so these companies are investing quite substantial amounts of their money for the future growth of their business.
This grant will improve competiveness in the agri-food industry as well as safeguarding and enhancing the rural environment. This provides a great opportunity to sustain rural businesses and rural communities, in my view it is a sound investment in one of our growing industries and I congratulate all these companies on their initiative."