Posted on 03-12-2009 at 06:00
Funding for rural firms
Dec 1 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
RURAL businesses in the Tees Valley are being encouraged to come forward and take advantage of £400,000 set aside to help diversify farms and boost the local economy.
The funding, via Redcar and Cleveland Council, is aimed at helping expand farms and help them become more sustainable.
The council is delivering the project on behalf of the Rural Development for England (RDPE) programme at regional development agency One North East and aims to ensure that 24 jobs will be safeguarded, 12 jobs created and 30 businesses are supported over the next 18 months.
The aim is to stimulate business growth and development by helping rural businesses to diversify and expand.
Adrian Sherwood, One North East’s RDPE manager, said: “This funding will encourage rural business in the Tees Valley to further expand and develop contributing towards an improved rural economy.
“This investment is key to redressing current declines and to establishing the areas as viable for business and attractive to visitors, which together are essential elements for economic growth.”
The RDPE programme has already helped North-east farms including Mike Fenwick Quality Catering Butchers in Newton Aycliffe - which supplies meat to hotels, restaurants, pubs, golf clubs, nursing homes and industrial caters right across the North.
Funding allowed the business to move to larger premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Park in Darlington which means the firm can source beef, pork and lamb directly from local farmers.
Money will also be awarded to establish and grow micro businesses - those with up to 10 employees.
Funds are available to assist farms to diversify and businesses to create new or upgrade premises, invest in equipment and to improve their marketing.
Any farm or micro-business wanting to find out more about the full package of funding should contact Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast
Funding of £600,000 will also be invested in the Market Town Investment Programme in and around Guisborough for tourism activities, improve the local economy and to enhance the town and its facilities.
The key objective is to establish a centre of regional significance that increases the town's profile as an activity tourism hub and entrance to the North York Moors National Park, which attracts additional visitor numbers to the area.
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