Worcestershire’s rural tourism businesses have until 5pm, on 30 October 2015 to apply for a share of £300,000.
Worcestershire businesses are invited to propose projects which help new or existing rural businesses expand or farms diversify into tourism activities, with the opportunity to receive grants from £35,000 up to approximately £100,000.
Funding is available to micro and small-sized rural businesses seeking to expand and create jobs, rural business communities seeking to invest in recreational and small scale rural tourism infrastructure and members of farm households seeking to diversify into non-agricultural activities.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) funding is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme (ESIF).
Applicants can apply for a grant to cover up to 40% of the project’s total eligible costs. Projects will need to demonstrate how they improve the range and quality of local tourism products, demonstrate a demand for the project, benefit the destination as a whole, add value to the overall ‘Worcestershire offer’, add value to an existing business or demonstrate that a new business opportunity exists and that they can extend the tourism season or attract business tourism.
The 2014-20 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth programme launched in March 2015 and this new round of funding, with £300,000 available to support tourism in Worcestershire, will be open until 30 October 2015.
Gary Woodman, Executive Director of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “EAFRD funding now available to Worcestershire’s rural tourism businesses provides a great opportunity to expand, create jobs and help to develop the county’s tourism offer, all of which will bring a positive impact to the local economy. I would urge interested parties to apply for this call for funding before the 30 October 2015 deadline.”
Applicants will be assessed in two stages of the application process, the outline and full application stages, further details on how to apply for a grant and an outline application form are available from gov.uk.
For more information on the funding available, contact Jo Jury by emailing jo.jury@rpa.gsi.gov.uk or by phoning 01905 768854. For further information on ESIF funding visit the gov.uk website.