Rural Development Programme for England GRANTS FOR RURAL BUSINESSES in CHESHIRE WEST & CHESTER, & CHESHIRE EAST INTRODUCTION The Rural Development Programme for England RDPE provides funds to encourage all types of rural development - helping farms, foresters, small businesses, and community ventures, among others. It operates until March 2013. In the North West, funding is available from the North West Regional Development Agency NWDA. The RDPE also provides funds for land-based environmental projects available separately through Natural England and the Forestry Commission (see contact details at the end of this leaflet)
This leaflet broadly summarises the direct grant options available through NWDA for the new Cheshire unitary areas. Priorities are set by the Cheshire Rural Partnership. The RDPE office will answer specific queries relating to eligible projects and businesses once we have received your expression of interest form. PLEASE NOTE: All applications for a grant of ÂŁ5,000 or more must be accompanied by a Business Plan.
GRANT AID Grants are available under 4 headings: 1. New ways to add value to farm and forestry products 2. Cooperating on the research and development of new products and processes 3. Farm diversification 4. Creating and developing small rural businesses
1. New ways to add value to farm and forestry products
What is available The grants will mainly be for capital projects, but can support certain revenue costs such as marketing, technical fees and product development.
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Priority will be given to small processors dealing with high added value products and to on farm processing. Priority will also be given to projects which open up new markets or improve standards, especially those which use renewable energy or improve the efficiency of energy use.
Who can apply This is targeted mainly at producers of the primary products of core farming and forestry, but can benefit others in the supply chain. Applicants working in the farming sector will generally be micro-businesses or small to medium sized enterprises; certain larger businesses working closely with primary producers may also benefit. Applicants working in the forestry sector are limited to micro-enterprises (less than 10 workers and less than â‚Ź2m turnover) only.
Grant rates These can be up to 40% depending on the size and type of project and the size and type of the businesses benefiting. For example, this will be 20% for larger businesses which benefit.
Maximum and Minimum grants The range of grant available will be from ÂŁ5,000 to ÂŁ100,000
Examples of eligible projects 1. A forestry business might apply for a grant for an innovative range of equipment for log making, biomass pellet making, wood chipping, kindling making, and facilities for storage of the product. 2. A horticultural business might require a new low energy processing and packaging system to improve the product value.
2. Cooperating on the research and development of new products and processes
What is available The grants can be for capital projects, and certain revenue costs such as technical or design fees, legal costs to establish cooperation, and for product development.
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Priority will be given to innovation, especially projects linked to those under heading 1 (adding value) and to those which improve energy efficiency.
Who can apply 2 or more farming, food and forestry businesses must be involved; these will be producers, processors and other partners in a supply chain. Primary producers must always be involved and benefit from the cooperation. Grant rates These can be between 35% and 100% depending upon the potential availability to the whole sector of the new techniques or products aided. Maximum and Minimum grants The range of grant available will be from ÂŁ5,000 to ÂŁ100,000
Examples of eligible projects A forestry business and a processor might apply for grant aid to trial new uses for wood. In this case, the costs of testing out a new treatment process and design costs, legal (transaction) fees and purchase of equipment may be supported.
3. Farm Diversification
What is available The grants will mainly be for capital projects, but can support certain revenue costs such as technical fees, product development and marketing. These projects must diversify the business out of core agriculture, and could include farm shops, equine, environmental services, leisure activities etc. Priority will be given to innovative approaches, especially to those which use renewable energy, or improve the efficiency of energy use. There are 2 types of funding: A. The renovation and new build of small rural buildings for diversified use (not core agriculture) as office or workspace. B. Other diversification projects
Who can apply This funding is limited to members of farming households currently working in agriculture. (To make certain of eligibility, the precise definition of an eligible applicant must be checked with the RDPE office.)
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Grant rates 1. Up to 25% under heading A (small rural buildings) 2. Up to 50% for other types of diversification Maximum and Minimum grants The range of grant available will be from £5,000 to £100,000
Examples of eligible projects A broad range of projects will be considered, as long as these come within the priorities set out for Cheshire.
4. Creating and developing small rural businesses
What is available The grants will mainly be for capital projects, but can support certain revenue costs such as technical fees and product development. Priority will be given to innovative approaches, especially to those which use renewable energy, or improve the efficiency of energy use. Who can apply Rural micro-enterprises (less than 10 workers and less than €2m turnover) in eligible areas.
Grant rate Up to 50% Maximum and Minimum grants The range of grant available will be from £5,000 to £100,000
Examples of eligible projects A broad range of projects will be considered, as long as these come within the priorities set out for Cheshire.
Items which are not eligible for grant aid
Under all headings, certain items will not be eligible. For example:
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Equipment which is not sufficiently specialised and/or not specific to the project will not be eligible e.g. vehicles which could be used for other purposes. Items needed for general maintenance, repair or replacement are not eligible - e.g. direct replacement of IT equipment. Exceptions to this may be made where an item is considerably more specialised or energy / resource efficient than the previous one. The NWDA’s decision will be final.
Contact details
For expression of interest forms, application forms and further details: NWDA RDPE office 01768 861321 / 306 Email rdpe@nwda.co.uk
For grant aid to help with Business Planning: NWDA RDPE office as above
For free initial business information and advice: Business Link Northwest 0845 00 66 888 Email info@businesslinknw.co.uk
For land based environmental schemes: Natural England 0161 237 1061 Email northwest@naturalengland.org.uk Forestry Commission 01768 776 616 Email northwest.fce@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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