Rural business grants available

The South Pennines LEADER programme

The South Pennines Leader programme has a budget of £1,269,000 available to help support a range of business enterprises in the South Pennines area.

Applications are now being accepted for the programme, which runs until 2019 and is managed by rural regeneration company Pennine Prospects.

To find out if your business qualifies, drop in to the information session on Wednesday 1 November, between 4.00pm and 6.00pm at Hare Hill House, Littleborough. 

There are a number of sectors eligible for the funding, as Sally Hinton, the Co-ordinator of the South Pennines Leader programme, explained: “We still have grant funding available, especially for farm, forestry, manufacturing, tourism and recreational businesses.

"This drop-in information event is a chance for local business people to find out about the grants and the process of applying.

"Even if you only have a few minutes, please come for a chat to see if we can support your plans, boosting economic growth and creating new jobs.”

To sign up for the free drop-in session book through Eventbrite at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-pennines-leader-rural-business-grant-information-session-tickets-38801710962

The programme is designed to offer support to increase farm productivity, as well as support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification, rural tourism, the provision of rural services, support for cultural and heritage activity and for increasing forestry productivity.

Grants will be awarded for 40% of the full cost of a project.

There is a handbook and guidance notes available from the South Pennines Leader website at:

www.southpenninesleader.co.uk