LEADER Grant Funding Open Call
The programme is aimed at boosting the rural economy across North Warwickshire and Hinckley and Bosworth area which was launched in 2015, has successfully awarded local businesses over £200,000 in grants.
Some of the successful applications which have been approved for funding in the area are beneficiaries such as Shustoke Village Hall Committee Ltd, Spotty Dog Communications and C J Springthorpe. Shustoke Village Hall received a grant to transform the village hall into two usable rooms to use as an indoor tea room and space for the community to use. Another successful beneficiary Spotty Dog Communications grant funded the creation of a studio production room through partitioning of offices; and fitting it out with new media production equipment. And lastly, C J Springthorpe, a family run business markets and sells logs at farmers markets but wanted to expand into kindling. The grant will be used for the purchase of an auto split kindling machine that will enable the process of the wood easier to make kindling.
The Local Action Group (LAG), consisting of local public, private and voluntary sector representatives, have the job of assessing the applications and decide whether the projects will contribute to the overall aim of the programme. Chair of the LAG, Sharon Earp, who runs her own award winning rural tourism business said, “We are delighted that local rural businesses are continuing to benefit from these funds. This is making an important difference to the rural economy, creating new jobs, encouraging visitors to the area and having a positive impact on local people”.
The LEADER Programme is aimed at funding projects which will have a positive impact on the local economy and improve services for local people. The money will be allocated to businesses, groups or organisations that can contribute to the creation of jobs or the growth of businesses in rural areas.
Another call for projects opens 3rd July to 21st August 2017. This call is for projects from farmers looking at increasing productivity, micro and small businesses including farm diversification, rural tourism businesses, rural services, cultural and heritage activities and foresters. Anyone who would like to know more about the programme or who would like an Expression of Interest form can contact The Coventry & Warwicshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or via email at support@cwgrowthhub.co.uk.