ECONOMIC development company, Opportunity Peterborough, and Rutland County Council are inviting businesses and residents to contribute their views to help shape a bid for LEADER funding. If successful, the bid could bring up to £1 million to the rural Peterborough and Rutland area to be used for increasing farm productivity, supporting micro or small businesses and farm diversification, rural services, tourism, cultural and heritage activities and forestry productivity.
The LEADER project is part of the Rural Development Programme, which is jointly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
As well as hosting workshop sessions, the team behind the bid have designed a questionnaire to prioritise the key areas for investment which will shape how the programme will be developed. The survey will help to inform a Local Development Strategy for the Rural Peterborough and Rutland area, which also includes the Yaxley and Farcet areas of Cambridgeshire.
Steve Bowyer, acting chief executive at Opportunity Peterborough, said, “The focus of the LEADER programme is to create growth, jobs and vibrant and sustainable communities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop our rural economy so we need to make sure the programme reflects the views of local businesses and residents – that’s why we’ve launched this survey.”
Libby Kingsley, economic development and tourism manager at Rutland County Council, said, “We’re inviting anyone located in the proposed LEADER area to have their say on how we develop this major programme of potentially over £1million which will drive economic growth and prosperity in our rural communities and businesses.”
The Local Development Strategy forms the basis of a funding bid to DEFRA for LEADER funding for the period 2014-2020. If successful, the Local Action group will open for project applications in January 2015.
To find out more about the LEADER programme, view the proposed area map and to contribute views through the survey, please visit www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk
Or, for more details please contact Rod Gilchrist at rod.gilchrist@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk or Libby Kingsley at economicdevelopment@rutland.co.uk