Community awards seek Kilkenny entries as it fast-tracks prizes to aid recovery

Towns and villages across Kilkenny are being urged to apply for a competition supporting local efforts in the wake of the pandemic which could net up to €50,000 for community projects.

Bank of Ireland has launched its 2020 Begin Together Awards with a prize fund of over €200,000 to support towns across the island of Ireland as they reboot and recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The competition this year will be fast-tracked to provide funding to winning towns by the beginning of October, with the intention of directly assist their recovery.

The aim of the awards is to bring business and community groups together to support local recovery and rebuilding as restrictions are lifted and the country gets back to work.

There are 21 awards in total, with the overall winner receiving €50,000 and the title of Ireland’s ‘Most Enterprising Town’. There is also a prize of €20,000 for the winner of the ‘Rising Star’ award.

Last year Kilkenny was the national winner of the competition. It received a cash prize of €33,000, which it is now using to establish a team of welcome ambassadors for visitors to Kilkenny city.

The categories for the awards this year reflect the challenge communities and businesses currently face as a result of the pandemic:

• Local Town Promotion Initiative – A marketing or promotional campaign designed to help kick start the local economy.
• Local Community Enterprise Initiative – A local enterprise initiative established specifically to ease the impact of COVID-19 or one that repurposed itself during the pandemic and was ready to begin operation on the easing of restrictions.
• Local Business and Community Response Initiative – A joint initiative by local businesses and the community to manage the impact of COVID-19 through lockdown and beyond as towns start to reopen.

The closing date for entries is August 24. For more information on the awards, visit: http://bankofireland.com/begintogetherawards.