Millions of pounds to benefit rural businesses

Defra announced this week details of the next round of LEADER funding, which comes from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and is aimed at promoting economic growth and generating new jobs over the next six years.

The Yorkshire Dales LEADER, which is administered by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust secured, £2.2m; the North York Moors, Coast and Hills (NYMCH) LEADER won £2.3m; and the Coast, Wilds, Wetlands and Waterways LEADER, which works across rural East Riding and adjacent parishes in North Yorkshire, received £21.m.

Rima Berry, Yorkshire Dales LEADER Co-ordinator said: “This is a unique opportunity for the rural businesses and communities in our area to benefit from investment in initiatives that other types of main stream ‘top-down’ funding fails to reach.”

Amy Thomas, NYMCH LEADER Programme Manager, based with lead partner organisation the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “The previous NYMCH LEADER Programme was recognised as being one of the most successful in the country so we are delighted to have been able to secure more funding to benefit our area. We have already had conversations with many people about potential projects in order to draw up a Local Development Strategy for the new Programme. I look forward to helping get these and many more off the ground in the years to come.”

It is expected that programmes will be open for funding applications towards the summer.