The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Growth Programme - supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development - will remain open for applications until Sunday February 16th 2020. Micro and small businesses in the Borough of Hartlepool are being urged not to miss out.
The minimum grant size has reduced from £35,000 to £20,000 so a greater number of small or micro businesses could be eligible for grants for their projects than has been the case in the past.
The grants cover three main areas – business development, tourism infrastructure and food processing.
The business development grants aim to help new and existing micro and small businesses create new jobs in the rural economy, with priority is being given to projects that enable farming businesses to diversity into non-agricultural activities, create new or expand existing micro and small businesses in a number of priority sectors or their wider supply chains and create new, skilled jobs in areas of potential growth.
The tourism infrastructure grants are for capital investments that develop and grow tourism in rural areas, with the aim of supporting and enhancing the tourism offer in rural parts of the Tees Valley LEP area, increasing visitor spend and encouraging visitors to stay longer.
The food processing grants aim to support the growth of food and drink businesses that process agricultural and horticultural products within Tees Valley, leading to job creation, improved processes and efficiencies that maximise capability for global competition.
Further information about the grants programme can be found at www.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/investment/european-calls