Seventeen community organisations in Belfast are to benefit from more than £300,000 funding from Belfast City Council.

The money will enable local groups to engage in regeneration and economic development activities within their own areas.

A variety of projects will be delivered focusing on communities most in need across the city. These will include business start-up facilities, the development of a unique music centre in the heart of Belfast and a range of social enterprise and physical regeneration schemes.

The Neighbourhood Economic Development Programme was first introduced by Belfast City Council in 2003 and since then more than 50 projects have been funded - marking an investment of £800,000 in local communities.

Councillor Michael Browne, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, applauded the programme for enabling community based organisations to deliver key

Fáilte Feirste Thiar – Go for Growth Programme: this programme is aimed at providing owner/managers of 12 small hospitality and tourism businesses with assistance towards the development of their businesses to enable them to benefit from the growth of the Belfast tourism sector.

Greater Village Regeneration Trust – Building a Workforce for Tomorrow: the project will provide funding for the appointment of a Development Officer to deliver a targeted mentoring programme for trainees and volunteers at the TREE Community Wood Recycling Business.

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Lower North Belfast Community Council – York Road Open for Business: this project will use a four point approach to revitalise commercial activity in the area.

Markets Development Association – Feasibility Study for the Markets Area: this project will facilitate the development of a feasibility study for the Markets Area.

North City Business Centre – Improving Enterprise Facilities in North Belfast: this project will undertake a comprehensive feasibility study of interface sites in North Belfast and prepare an economic appraisal and business plan for a suitable location for a Business Incubation Centre.

Oh Yeah Music Centre – Development of Oh Yeah Music Centre: this project will enable the Oh Yeah Music Centre to employ a Development Officer, in order to enable the project to advance to the next stage of its development.

Oasis Caring in Action – Oasis Trading Manager Project: this project will facilitate the funding of a Trading Manager to oversee Oasis Caring in Action`s Social Enterprises and help to develop two additional social enterprises.

Raidió Fáilte – Business Development: this project will lead to the employment of a Business Development Officer who will be responsible for planning and undertaking a range of actions to increase the capacity of the radio station to contribute to economic development at community level; the project will also lead to development of the radio station’s website.

Sandy Row Community Forum – Revitalise through Enterprise: this project will facilitate the development of a Commercial Stakeholder Partnership to act as a collective voice for traders and lobby for and participate in regeneration projects in the Sandy Row area.

Shankill Women's Centre – Economic Development Manager: this programme is aimed at providing Shankill Women`s Centre with the resources and the expertise to successfully manage the final stages of the refurbishment of their new premises and also to oversee the successful operation of the new premises.

West Belfast Partnership Board – West Belfast Business Support Network: the project will provide a package of business development support to micro-businesses in West Belfast who have traditionally been unable to avail of mainstream government support, particularly that offered by Invest Northern Ireland.

Work West – Social Enterprise Growth through Placement Programme: this project will assist Social Enterprises throughout Belfast to develop and address any barriers to growth through the provision of a placement undergraduate student who will undertake a 10 week project within the organisation.

(GK/JM)