£60m cash boost for rural East Midlands

Land-based businesses in the East Midlands, including farmers, foresters, horticulturists and equine businesses are set to benefit from a massive £60m cash injection over the next 5 years.

The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is behind the launch of the socio-economic element of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007 - 2013. Funded by Defra and the European Union, emda has approximately £60m available for projects in the East Midlands until 2013.

Rural economy experts, The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) welcome the move. CLA's East Midlands Rural Development Adviser, Julie Robinson said: "We are particularly pleased to hear that the application process has been simplified as far as possible and hope that landowners, farmers and land based businesses will bring forward projects.

"The delays during the approval process meant that some rural businesses put plans on hold for over a year and they will welcome the opportunity to move forward."

The criteria for projects to be eligible for grant funding includes:

• Adding value to agricultural, horticultural or forestry products – including the development of new products, processes and technologies

• Improving co-operation and collaboration between businesses to improve efficiency – including infrastructure and equipment investments

• Promoting diversification in the rural economy.

• Support for the development and adaptation of agriculture, such as improvement of irrigation networks, water recycling on livestock, horticultural and arable holdings and development of winter storage reservoirs

The majority of investment will benefit land based businesses. Fewer but more significant and strategic investments are planned and groups of producers or farmer controlled businesses will be encouraged to suggest collaborative projects. The funds will be available for investments anywhere in the East Midlands region.