Partner Article

Help for rural businesses

Rural businesses have been invited by the North East’s regional development agency to bid for a share of a £2.5m grant.

The cash, part of the Rural Development Programme for England, follows a successful pilot scheme, which helped 400 small enterprises.

Applicants will be helped with start-up and capital investment costs, technical and marketing support and development.

However, they must secure 50% of the total costs from private sources.

Businesses will also be eligible for financial help to set up renewable energy schemes such as wind turbines, bio-mass boilers and heat exchangers.

Ian Brown, One North East’s rural board member, said: “This package of funding is great news for rural farms and micro-businesses which may receive essential funding during difficult times, allowing them to grow and prosper and consequently have a knock-on effect on the region’s economy.”

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.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .