Tidy Towns groups in County Wicklow are included in funding of €1.4m announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys.
The funding is provided to support Tidy Town Groups in preparation for the 2023 SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition. It will promote an emphasis on projects that emphasise green spaces, parks and biodiversity.
As part of the initiative, grants of between €1,000 and €4,000 will be provided to almost 900 Tidy Towns groups right across the country. Groups who entered the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition in 2021 or 2022 will be eligible.
Cllr Tommy Annesley, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, welcomed the funding for County Wicklow saying it was an investment in communities and community work across the county.
Council Chief Executive, Mr Brian Gleeson, stated that it was very welcome funding for community groups who were doing their best to improve their local areas with limited money.
Mr Michael Nicholson, Director of Services for Community, Cultural and Social Development, said the funding will be of great benefit to Tidy Towns Groups across the county.
The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition has been in existence since 1958 and continues to grow and attract new entrants each year with some 882 towns and villages entering the 2022 competition.
Speaking about the funding to support groups entering the 2023 SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, Minister Humphreys said: “This week I wrote to all Tidy Towns Groups across the country and thanked them for their work and dedication to their community. The efforts of the thousands of volunteers make our towns more vibrant and better places to live, work and raise a family.”
All eligible groups will be contacted before Christmas to confirm their funding. Applications for funding must be returned to Pobal no later than February 28th 2023, late applications will not be accepted. All projects and initiatives funded through this support must be completed by July 31st, 2023.