Posted by Geraldine Pearce
on 7/8/2009, 12:46 pm
91.105.147.162
A major project to inject £1.5m into rural businesses in Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood will be launched this week.
The LEADER program provides a large pot of cash for rural businesses to bid for to improve tourism, conservation and rural heritage. It also supports existing businesses wanting to set up ‘micro-enterprises’, helps farms diversify into different activities and can also cover training for people wanting to learn how to get the most out of a rural business.
The project will be launched at Sherwood Pines Visitor Centre at 2pm on Tuesday 21st July 2009. It is being run by a local action group, which includes Bassetlaw District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Social Enterprises East Midlands [SEEM], Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire [RCAN], the New Economics Foundation, Nottinghamshire County Council and Business Link. The project is being led by Bassetlaw District Council’s Economic Development Team.
The £1.5m in grant money has been provided by the RDPE (Rural Development Programme for England) and individual businesses will be expected to match fund some grants – taking the total worth of the project to £2.5m.
Businesses wanting to apply for a grant will need to submit an ‘expression of interest’, outlining their plans. If this is approved a full application process will follow. Interested businesses should contact Robert Wilkinson, economic development manager for Bassetlaw District Council on 01909 512211 or email
robert.wilkinson@bassetlaw.gov.uk
Councillor Mike Quigley, leader of Bassetlaw District Council and Notts County Councillor said: "It is exciting to be able to include rural Bassetlaw in the Council’s plans to develop business enterprise in the district.
"This programme is not necessarily about attracting new businesses to the area, but about building on the traditional skills that have always driven our countryside enterprises.
"We are delighted that we can now start to regenerate these skills by injecting modern business principles and methods into the way our rural enterprises operate."
Last Updated - 20/07/2009
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