Support for rural areas of Lancashire
Rural companies in Lancashire are being encouraged to apply for a share of more than £2m to grow their business.
The funding from Lancashire County Council can support a range of activities such as business development, farming, rural services, culture and heritage, and forestry.
It can be used for a variety of different uses such as buying equipment and business expansion – as long as the projects involve business growth, job creation or both.
The funding is part of the Lancashire LEADER programme 2015-2020.
County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: “We’re calling on rural groups and businesses to apply for this funding, which will help them to create new jobs and boost the local economy.
“The aim is to help rural businesses to diversify, consider new opportunities and develop projects that enrich and develop rural areas of Lancashire.
“Local representatives help to decide which projects to fund in their area. Their knowledge and expertise is used to decide how funding is allocated in their local area.
“We’re calling on businesses and organisations to consider applying. The LEADER programme has already funded a wide range of projects across Lancashire and we’re keen to create even more jobs this time around.”
One of the projects supported by LEADER is a new café and training room at Daisy Clough Nurseries in Cabus. The café is due to open shortly. They obtained a 36% grant towards the cost of the work. A minimum of seven full-time equivalent jobs will be created.
Another project backed by the programme is a gin and vodka distillery equipment at Brindle Distillery, Chorley. They sought funding towards a farm diversification project involving the purchase of specialist distillery equipment to make gin and vodka using their own crops and natural spring water from the farm.
They obtained 40% grant funding towards the cost of the equipment. Seven full-time equivalent jobs will be created. Cuckoo Gin is now available in a range of stockists including Booth supermarkets.
Near Lancaster, Box Tree Farm in Wennington received a grant towards a specialist blower trailer and drying facility. A 40% grant was given towards the development of a new woodchip supply business. The project will create two full-time posts and a part-time post.
To find out more about the funding and how it could help your business, contact Karen Lawrenson on 01772 538797 or Louise Kite on 01772 534134, or email [email protected].
More details are also available at www.lancashire.gov.uk/rural-development.
For further information please contact: Andy Swain on 01772 532781
[email protected]