€5M Connected Hubs Fund Now Inviting Expressions of Interest
The primary objective of the Connected Hubs Call is to support and complement the development of the National Hub Network, which is a key action of the Rural Development Policy - Our Rural Future and the National Remote Working Strategy – Making Remote Work. The Connected Hubs Call aims to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in Ireland by upgrading existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs), while continuing to support COVID-19 mitigation measures.
The Connected Hubs Call will provide owners, operators and managers of existing remote working facilities and BCPs with the opportunity to identify and develop their own solutions in consultation with local authorities, local business interests (e.g. Chambers of Commerce), Town Teams (or similar bodies) and community groups as appropriate.
The total indicative funding available for the Connected Hubs Call is €5 million.
Applicants must be BCPs or existing hubs (can demonstrate they have been in operation as a remote working hub for 6 months). Existing hubs must already provide some element of remote working facilities. BCPs are not required to already provide remote working facilities but there should be some element of a remote working space being developed and the 6 months requirement does not apply to BCPs.
Deadline for Applications – 6pm on 4 April 2022.
How to Apply
Applicants are asked to register their intention/expression of interest to apply to this scheme by Friday 4 March 2022 – this should be done via email to: connectedhubs@drcd.gov.ie. Emails should contain the subject line ‘EOI: Connected Hubs 2022 Call’.
Applications relating to single-hub projects should be made using Form 1 together with the required appendices and are subject to a maximum limit of €75,000 (and a minimum funding threshold of €10,000).
Applications for projects dealing with multiple hubs/BCPs should be grouped as a multi-hub application where possible and appropriate. Multi-hub applications must include a minimum of three hubs/BCPs and a maximum of five hubs/BCPs. Applications for such multi-hub projects should be made using Form 2 together with the required appendices.