A £30m cash injection into loyalist areas is a recognition of inequality in that community, the DUP has said.
DUP say there has been inequality in loyalist areas
An official government announcement on the issue is expected next week.
Sources have told the BBC that the package of economic assistance for deprived loyalist areas should be between £25-35m.
Some sources within unionism have expressed disappointment at the sum, given the recent cuts in areas such as education in Belfast.
However, other loyalist sources said they saw the initiative as a challenge and would work with whatever money was provided for areas such as skills and training, housing and urban regeneration.
In January this year, NIO Minister David Hanson said the plan would focus on how government could empower working class Protestant communities to tackle deprivation.
It was drawn up following concerns that policies were not making the intended impact in loyalist districts.
DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland said the announcement was significant as it was recognition of disadvantage in loyalist areas.
"Republicans and nationalists often attempt to deny that there is a problem and even some people in the voluntary sector attempt to deny that there is a problem," he told BBC News.
"This is a recognition by government that there is a problem and it is another step along what will have to be a long road to equality.
"For decades, unionist communities have suffered inequality and disadvantage... there will have to be institutional and structural changes."
However, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said he was not happy with the package.
"I think the minister is trying his best to put a package together to deal with deprivation in a number of areas - primarily loyalist areas - but not exclusively," he said.
"But the problem is that this is a cross-government issue. A couple of days ago, the Belfast Education and Library Board cut £6.5m out of its budget - a very high percentage of that cut will apply in loyalist areas.
"Given that educational under-achievement in the worst 15 wards in Northern Ireland - 13 are in loyalist wards - how can you fix a situation in a loyalist area when one government department is taking money out while another is putting it in?"