LEADER Funding to Develop Rural Economy
£1.9m funding provided by the European Union and Defra is now available until 2013 to help develop the Rural Economy.
Micro-enterprises and land based businesses within the Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ), covering large parts of Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak, will be able to apply for funding to help them diversify their interests and become more sustainable thanks to the launch of Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership’s (DDEP) new LEADER funding.
LEADER will be co-ordinated by the Local Action Group (LAG), which comprises 15 public, private and voluntary sector representatives, all with local knowledge and expertise. Local members include Councillor Tracey Critchlow, Farming Life Centre Manager.
Over the next few months, the focus will be on helping the land-based sector to diversify into non-agricultural activities, particularly within the food and drink, creative industry and environmental sectors. Eligible projects will have a value of at least £7,000 and could include applications for funding towards the cost of feasibility studies, market research, start-up capital and revenue costs, product development and refurbishment projects.
Alongside this, LEADER funding will support the creation and development of micro-enterprises and social enterprises. New start-up businesses and existing businesses employing less than ten people will be able to apply for match-funding grants to help set-up and market a new business venture, develop local products or refurbish and convert a property for business use. To be eligible for funding, businesses must have a focus on local products or services and deliver clear economic benefits, particularly on job creation.
In the future, grants will also be available through LEADER for projects and businesses that will contribute to tourism in the area; enhance and develop rural heritage; projects that help raise skills and address specific skills gaps in rural provision; and activities that improve access to key rural services.
The LEADER approach has a cross cutting theme of ‘growing greener enterprise’ and will therefore give priority to any proposals that make use of environmental technologies and/or renewable energy solutions and those that integrate environmental management and resource efficiency principles into their proposals.
Cllr Lewis Rose Chair of the Local Action Group commented:
“The LEADER approach has been designed to address gaps identified in the current provision within the Rural Action Zone and complement existing activities, so that we can help to support our key industry sectors, such as land based businesses, micro-enterprises, tourism and heritage.”
“The first phase of grant activity has been designed to help support organisations that are most likely to be affected by a slowing economy – micro-enterprises and agricultural businesses. So I would encourage any business that meets the criteria and is looking to diversify its interests or develop a new project to apply.”
LEADER has received £1.9million from the Rural Development Programme for England 2007 – 2013.
£1.6 million has been awarded from East Midlands Development Agency (emda) together with an additional £285,000 funding from Advantage West Midlands (AWM).
For further information about the LEADER project and grant eligibility, visit www.ddep.co.uk/rural-forum/leader-/.
Alternatively e-mail Amanda.Brown@ddep.co.uk.
