This section of the website provides information on all the bidding rounds and grants under the Strategic Investment Grant as part of the RDPE Programme 2007 to 2013.
The Strategic Investment Grant (SIG) is a capital grants programme, (for grants £62,500 and above) funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), and is available to land based businesses. SIG can fund large scale and collaborative projects to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, and improve the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy.
Applications for SIGs are currently being invited to support investments in the following areas:
Fruit and Vegetable Packing and Processing;
Supply Chain Facilities in the Livestock Sector (dairy, beef, sheep, pigs, poultry meat and eggs);
Centralised Storage and Processing Facilities for Combinable Crops;
Farm diversification;
Improve the Economic Value of Forests and the Processing and Marketing of Primary Forestry Products; and
Agricultural Showgrounds.
How do I apply for a Strategic Investment Grant?
Review the information provided on this page and within the specification documents to check that you and your project is eligible for funding.
If you are eligible, send details of your project, answering any specific questions, to the AWM colleague as detailed in the specific specification by the closing date (if any);
If your project meets the requirements and the funding is available we will send you an application pack and invite you to produce a full application. If you have not already done so, we will also put you in touch with Business Link West Midlands who will help you assess any need for training or business advice. Funding is conditional on this.
In addition to this you will need to secure full planning permission and/or listed building and other relevant consents (where this is a legal requirement) before submitting your full application.
Once received, your application will be appraised prior to consideration by the Agency’s Investment Decision Group. If approved, we will issue you with a funding contract and you can begin work on your project.
Please do not complete a project application form until you have made contact with the AWM colleague as detailed below. Also note that AWM will only accept applications made on the RDPE SIG application form.
How do I find out more?
More information on SIG bidding rounds is available by selecting the documents located in the 'Related Documents' section to the right or by contacting Advantage West Midlands through the details shown below.
Rural Development Programme for England Business Support is part of Solutions for Business, the Government's package of publicity funded business support delivered to help companies start and grow. More information on Solutions for Business is available here.