Tees Valley & Vale of Mowbray LEADER Programme Prospectus. 1.1m of EU funding applied for to promote the Rural Economy

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1 Tees Valley & Vale of Mowbray LEADER Programme Prospectus 1.1m of EU funding applied for to promote the Rural Economy The Tees Valley & Vale of Mowbray LEADER Programme Local Action Group have submitted a bid from the EU Rural Development Fund to support a new LEADER area, covering the designated rural areas of Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Darlington and part of Hambleton District. These areas have never had access to LEADER before and have not received much significant funding in the past. The bid has been successful and the programme has been awarded a total sum of 1.230,000. The programme is planned to run for three years from June/July 2015 and, in order to make sure it gets off to a good start; we are looking for project ideas that will achieve the main aims of the programme: 1. To market and promote the products and services of the Tees Valley & Vale of Mowbray (TVVM) rural economy to a wider local, national and international market of consumers, businesses and visitors; in doing so we will be encouraging and supporting our local businesses to diversify, grow and compete more effectively, as well as helping to support new market developments. 2. To integrate our rural and urban economies so as to harness the potential of greater connectivity and collaborative actions to bring long term, sustainable benefits to our communities and businesses. 3. To support enabling networks and other measures to promote sustainability through business resilience, resource efficiency, rural farming structure and rural community vitality. The programme is open to applicants who can be Small & Micro rural enterprises, farm businesses, forest and woodland enterprises, tourism businesses, community groups and individuals. We are looking for projects that will meet any of the six LEADER priorities, to which the following funding has been allocated: 1

2 LEADER Investment Priority Funding Allocation TVVM Programme Target no. of Projects to be funded Target for Jobs to be created Support for increasing farm productivity 200, Support for micro and small business 408, enterprise and farm diversification Support for rural tourism 180, Support for rural services 100, Support to cultural and heritage activities 50, Support for increasing forestry productivity 70, Priority 1. Support for increasing farm productivity Rationale: UK agriculture has always been at the forefront of technological development and ideas first tested here, have then been adopted around the world. In an increasingly competitive global market, farm businesses need to maintain their competitive advantage to be able to provide jobs, new business and future careers for those involved in agri-business. Consultation has shown that innovation, productivity and the seizing of new opportunities both within and outside the core farming business are the key to progress along with some structural changes relating to succession planning, business resilience, skills and knowledge. Increasing farm productivity through precision farming methods. Farming Business Growth and Improvement Network Opportunity exchange portal for innovation, business opportunities, produce or services available or required. 2

3 Priority 2. Support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification Rationale: The rural economy of the Tees Valley & Vale of Mowbray is very diverse but the area has not previously enjoyed any significant funding from previous rural programmes, other than through individual farm-based projects. Through LEADER, we hope to amend that situation and build on the advantages of a large nearby market for goods and services, the good lines of communication, the benefits of available premises suitable for reuse and an improved connective infrastructure. The programme will offer smaller grants for equipment and built facilities to encourage the creation of new enterprises and businesses across the area. A rural business growth hub for micro and small enterprise and farm diversification A Local Food & Drink produce Hub outlet (Collaborative Project) An Equestrian Centre of Excellence and associated trails and improved access. Priority 3. Support for Rural Tourism Rationale: whilst the Vale of Mowbray is supported by Welcome to Yorkshire, the Tees Valley lost its Destination Management system with the demise of the RDA. The private hospitality sector within Tees Valley, has expressed the willingness to replace this with an appropriate modern solution. This platform could also provide the means of promoting the whole area through an exchange of knowledge and information, seeking out the hidden gems of the area and promoting its rural areas and attractions as a part of the business based tourism potential of the Tees Valley, along-side and complementary to, the more traditional tourism offering of the Dales and the Moors. Tourism/Leisure project involving the Tees Valley and linking to Welcome to Yorkshire and Visit North East England Grants scheme to support the establishment and upgrade of accommodation and attractions and other activity to generate increased visitor numbers and longer stay. 3

4 Priority 4. Provision of Rural Services Rationale: Evidence of the gradual loss of rural services such as libraries, rural transport, shops and pubs, is building year by year. Under the heading of improved connectivity we believe that modest interventions in rural services can make a significant difference to life in village communities and produce both social and economic benefits. Superfast broadband for village halls and community centres Rural transport solutions Support for community owned and operated service facilities Priority 5. Support for Cultural and Heritage activity Rationale: Support under this priority is not simply about preserving the heritage for its own sake, but of making it an integral part of the visitor economy, the local food economy and the generation of new enterprise based on traditional crafts and skills, largely lost, but still needed and with new markets developing for products. Grant scheme for small projects linking Cultural Heritage with tourism, access information and enjoyment Support for business and enterprise based on culture and heritage. 4

5 Priority 6. Support for increasing Forestry Production Rationale: The role for LEADER within this priority is to help improve the management of neglected areas of woodland and forest, help build low carbon supply chains from woodland and support the development and marketing of new products, making use of what are generally waste materials. A small grant scheme will help those looking for outdoor work to set up in business, and support the work of the Forestry commission in the area to build the understanding, of woodland owners and managers, of the value of their assets. Developing low carbon opportunities for foresters, landowners and managers Supporting the creation of woodland/forest management plans Small grant scheme for improving forestry and wood product productivity and developing new supply chain outlets Contact details; Nicholas White Tees Valley Rural Community Council Tel; Unit 2a, Cadcam Centre Mob; High Force Road, ; nwhite@teesvalleyrcc.org.uk Riverside Park Middlesbrough TS2 1RH 5