The town of Abbeyleix is to benefit from €100,000 Streetscape Enhancement funding from the Department Rural and Community Development.
The funding was announced this morning by Minister Heather Humphreys and sees one town in each of the 26 counties benefit. In Kildare, Athy was the town selected.
“Under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, retailers and property owners will be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings,” said Laois-Offaly TD and Minister for State Sean Fleming.
“Works can include:
- Collaboration between property owners to paint buildings and/or shopfronts in vibrant colours
- Upgrade or restoration of historic / traditional shopfronts
- Provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes
- Installation of canopies
- Murals/public artwork
“I am very pleased to see this investment by the Government in our local towns and villages. With more opportunities becoming available for people to work from home making our communities more attractive places to live and work is very important.
“We have great voluntary community groups who do a lot of work in making our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming.
“Improving the streetscapes and shopfronts for example with vibrant colours, canopies, flowers will go even further to make Abbeyleix Town even more inviting.
“Laois County Council will manage this funding and applications will be open in the coming weeks. I would encourage retailers and property owners in Abbeyleix Town who are eligible to apply for this funding.”
“The purpose of this Scheme is to reinvigorate our towns and villages and make them more attractive places to live, work or visit,” added Minister Pippa Hackett, welcoming the news.
“This grant will provide retailers and property owners with funds that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.”
“This funding is an example of the continued investment in towns and villages across the country.
“Schemes like this one and the Town Centres First and Croí Conaithe Policies are all measures, brought in by this Government, to make our towns and villages more vibrant and ultimately bring people back to them.
“I’m delighted to see this investment in Abbeyleix, and know that the Town Teams working in Abbeyleix will make good use of this funding – I look forward to seeing the oAutcome,” concluded the Minister.
