Rural firms in Worcestershire urged to apply for new grant support

RURAL tourism firms in Worcestershire have been urged by the county’s Local Enterprise Partnership to apply for a share of grant aid worth £300,000.

Projects which help new or existing rural businesses expand or farms diversify into tourism activities are eligible to receive grants from £35,000 up to approximately £100,000.

Priority will be given to projects that promise growth and new jobs and firms have until October 30 to apply for a share of the pot.

The funding is also available to rural business communities seeking to invest in recreational and small scale rural tourism infrastructure.

The funding is available through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme (ESIF).

Applicants can apply for a grant to cover up to 40% of a project’s total eligible costs.

However, the LEP said applicants would need to demonstrate how they can improve the range and quality of local tourism products, illustrate 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.

Gary Woodman, executive director of the Worcestershire LEP, said: “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 funding before the 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 the LEP’s website http://www.wlep.co.uk/