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New EU funding available for Rural and Tourism businesses in the Heart of the South West

£12.4 million of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) funding is now available to support projects that increase rural jobs, growth and productivity in the Heart of the South West.

Rural businesses and organisations can now apply to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for grants through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Growth Programme.

Funding is split across three specific strands:

  • £2,784,740 for ‘Rural Business Development Grants’ – Farm businesses diversifying into non-agricultural activity and new or existing micro and small businesses (including social enterprises) in rural areas can apply for capital grants between £35,000 and £170,000 to support business start-up or expansion.
  • £7,540,000 for ‘Food Processing Grants’ – New or existing food and drink processing businesses (including farm businesses diversifying into food and drink processing) can apply for capital grants from £35,000 to support business start-up or expansion.
  • £2,088,555 for ‘Rural Tourism Infrastructure’ -Rural businesses, farmers, landowners, charities and public bodies can apply for capital grants from £35,000 for projects that improve the local rural tourism offer by delivering new or enhanced rural tourism assets and infrastructure.

There is a competitive and two-stage application process, comprising an expression of interest and a full application. Match-funding is also required. Further details of funding opportunities and how to apply are available here.

The Heart of the South West is one of the most rural LEP areas in the country, with 91% of its land area classified as rural. The business population spans both the rural and urban environment on a roughly 50:50 basis.

Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Steve Hindley said:

“The LEP welcomes these new funding opportunities, through the Rural Development Programme for England, for projects that support rural jobs, growth and productivity. We have worked with the Rural Payments Agency to bring forward these new funding opportunities so are now delighted to be able to call for applicants.

“The rural economy is of great importance to the Heart of the South West, and part of our Strategic Economic Plan is to build on our distinctive assets which are partly attributed to our rural aspects.

“We encourage rural businesses and organisations with relevant project proposals to apply for this new funding.”

For projects with a funding agreement in place prior to the UK’s exit from the EU, funding will be guaranteed by Her Majesty’s Treasury even if projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-certainty-on-eu-funding-for-hundreds-of-british-projects

For any queries relating to these funding opportunities through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Growth Programme, please contact the Rural Payments Agency at GPEnquiries@rpa.gsi.gov.uk

More information about the Heart of the South West European Structural Investment Fund is available at https://heartofswlep.co.uk/doing-business-in-our-area/european-structural-and-investment-funds-esif/

 

 

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.