Grants

Greening and urban biodiversity projects, street art, creative seating, atmospheric lighting and new unique events are just some of the projects which could be supported under the City Council’s City Centre Placemaking Fund.

The aim of this initiative is to supportprojects which will enhance, improve, and enliven people’s experience of cork city centre, increase footfall and support the local economy. Open to business network groups and community groups operating in Cork City Centre, it also strives to encourage collaboration in specific streets and neighbourhoods.

We are particularly interested in projects that contribute to the greening of the streets and encourages urban biodiversity in the city centre which may include for example window boxes, hanging baskets, outdoor areas/rooftops with pollinator friendly or edible plants, creating vertical green walls, food towers or installing bird/bat boxes or insect motels.  Projects that can demonstrate what is possible in an urban environment or that educate on this topic are welcomed.

With community-based participation at its centre, effective placemaking capitalises on a local community's assets, inspiration, and potential, and it results in the creation of quality public spaces that contribute to people's health, happiness, and wellbeing.  It helps local communities to re-imagine everyday spaces.

Groups can apply for up to €10,000 for capital projects although many projects may cost much less. New events may also be eligible if considered unique and contribute significantly towards the fund’s objectives.

Application forms can be obtained by contacting the following:

John Hayes

Strategic & Economic Development Directorate

Cork City Council, City Hall Cork, 021 4924115

or email to  john_hayes@corkcity.ie (must be under 5mb).

Or can be downloaded below

City-Centre-Placemaking--Fund-2022-application-form.docx (size 2.5 MB)

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Monday 30th May 2022

Social enterprises across Cork now have an exciting opportunity to apply for cash grants of between €10,000 and €50,000 from the Social Enterprise Development Fund, together with a place on the National Accelerator programme for social enterprises.

Who can apply ?

Applications are open to social enterprises which: 

• Have a clear social mission that addresses a critical social issue.
• Generate income from goods or services
• Are already up and running
• Reinvest any surplus into achieving their mission
• Have a not-for-profit legal form
• Are separate from government and state agencies
• Have their  main impact in the Republic of Ireland

How to apply?

This year the open-call comprises of two stages:

Stage 1

Applications are open until the 25th January,  via a short application form. Based on this initial form, Social Innovation Fund Ireland will identify a shortlist of applicants who will be invited to submit further information..

Stage 2

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete a more detailed application form on request. The submission deadline for the second stage of the application is 28th February 2019. 

For further information and application forms visit www.socialinnovation.ie/socialenterprise-development/

Cork City Council supports social enterprises who wish to apply for €400,000 fund to address Ireland’s greatest social challenges.

Ann Doherty , Chief Executive of Cork City Council , said: " We're excited to be working with Rethink Ireland in their effort to support social enterprises around the country. The Social Enterprise Development Fund, which will continue to complement the on-going support available to social enterprises from local authorities across the country, will surely help deliver real and meaningful change to each of the organisations involved and Ireland's social enterprise sector as a whole."

The Social Enterprise Development is a €3.2 Million Fund running from 2022-2023. €400,000 in cash grants will be made available as well as additional business supports.

The objective of the fund is to find and back the best social enterprises in Ireland by making cash grants and strategic business support available to Awardees. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, Social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social enterprises are re-invested into achieving their core social objectives.The Social Enterprise Development Fund was created by Rethink Ireland in 2018 in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Further details are available at https://rethinkireland.ie/our-funds/social-enterprise/