The whole of the West Midlands region is eligible under the 2007 – 2013 ERDF Programme. There are no core, transitional or non-eligible geographic areas of the region with separate funding allocations as per the 2000 – 2006 Objective 2 Programme, therefore making it easier to develop projects that benefit the entire region.
The Priority Axes are not separately defined into measures. Although there are specific categories of assistance under the Priority Axes of the 2007 – 2013 ERDF Programme, these are not defined as measures with separate funding allocations as per the 2000 – 2006 Objective 2 Programme. Project applications, approvals and grant claims will simply fall under one of the three Priority Axes, therefore much reducing the administrative burden of delivering projects.
Private sector funding is no longer reported as match-funding under the 2007 – 2013 ERDF Programme. Private sector ‘match’ will be reported as an output of private sector leverage. Projects may contain private sector funds as part of the total funding package but this will not be reported in the eligible funding package of the project or as part of the eligible expenditure. Projects will, in the main, be funded on a 50% ERDF, 50% public sector match basis, thereby reducing match-funding complications. In exceptional circumstance different intervention rates may be possible, but these will need to be agreed with the ERDF Programme Management Team.
SME in-kind staff time will no longer be eligible. Contributions in kind are ineligible for ERDF, except in cases where a clear valuation can be made, such as the donation of a building or land. SME in-kind staff time will no longer be eligible. This will reduce the administrative burden previously placed on SMEs in recording and reporting staff time and payroll records. Whilst this will mean less available match-funding to drawdown ERDF grant, an average ERDF contribution rate of 50% will be greater than previous programmes.