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Grants available to improve rural areas

Grants of more than £2,500 are available to help small businesses, farmers and community groups in parts of Derbyshire Dales and High Peak to develop and grow.

A total of £1.7m is available from the Peak Leader Rural Grants Scheme which is being managed by Derbyshire County Council on behalf of the Derbyshire Economic Partnership.

Grants will be available for projects that can create jobs, grow businesses or develop community services in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.

The grants can also be used to help:

• increase farm productivity and improvement
• farm diversification
• small business support
• provide new services in rural areas
• small scale culture and heritage developments and improvements
• new small tourist attractions
• forestry improvements (woodland management).

Our Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget Councillor Anne Western said:

“Farming and small businesses are the lifeblood of many rural communities and play an important role in Derbyshire’s economy.

“We’re committed to building a strong economy that creates jobs and grows businesses and these grants are a welcome boost for rural communities in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.”

Bids will be considered by the programme’s Local Action Group which is made up of representatives from the local authorities, voluntary groups, community groups and businesses within the Peak District.

Chair of the Local Action Group Councillor Lewis Rose said:

“We aim to deliver a difference by building on our successful track record of excellent partnerships and creating jobs by working with existing and new start businesses. We will champion and support entrepreneurial communities, ensuring that innovative ideas to improve and add to our rural services can be tested and delivered.”

The scheme is being funded by the European Union through the Government’s Rural Development Programme for England.

The scheme will be open for business from Friday 20 November 2015 with the first deadline for outline applications on 8 January 2016. Anyone interested in applying can visit Leader in the Peak 2015 to 2020 (opens in a new window) for details or email: peakleader@derbyshire.gov.uk