This page of the website will provide you with a regular update on the developments, news and achievements of the RDPE Programme. This will be updated at the start of every month.
Read below the update for January 2010.
Overview
Advantage West Midlands is responsible for delivery of the socio-economic aspects (Axis 1 and 3) of the RDPE Programme 2007-13. The budget for the West Midlands region is circa. £54m, focussed on the 4 thematic areas of Livestock, Food & Drink, Tourism and Environmental Technologies. A framework is in place to facilitate delivery with a range of smaller and larger RDPE grants available, supported by a number of enabling and supporting projects along with a network of Local Action Groups to deliver the Leader approach.
During January the following RDPE projects were approved:
Going for Growth – Business Link West Midlands - A £4m RDPE grant will enable Business Link West Midlands to provide enhanced business advice, support and guidance to agricultural businesses and rural enterprises in the region. Support will include free business reviews and business planning activity along with mentoring and support for those pursuing capital investment grant opportunities. Part-funding towards the costs of feasibility studies to support potential grant applications will also be available and these will be invaluable in ensuring sound rural business investments that create the greatest economic impact.
Update on the RDPE Grants
A) Strategic Investment Grant
A simplified and extended Strategic Investment Grant (SIG) was re-launched in June 2009 and the following thematic areas are currently subject to calls for bids:
Farm diversification;
Fruit and vegetable packing and processing;
Supply chain facilities in the livestock sector;
Centralised storage and processing facilities for combinable crops;
Processing and marketing of forestry products; and
Agricultural showgrounds
In February we will be re-launching calls under the resource efficiency thematic area.
B) Rural Enterprise Grant
The Rural Enterprise Grant (REG) scheme, which supports small-scale farm diversification and creation of and support for rural enterprises, continues to make good progress. This smaller value grant scheme (grants up to £62,500) is administered on the Agency’s behalf by Herefordshire Council and the REG team have now dealt with over 850 enquiries from potential applicants since the scheme started in October 2008 and awarded over £1m of RDPE grants.
C) WoodlandEnterprise Grant
This scheme was launched in October 2009 and includes capital grant funding for forestry via the Woodland Enterprise Grant (WEG). The Heartwoods West Midlands Woodfuel project will provide support to potential WEG applicants to produce a Woodland Improvement Plan which will identify potential capital investments that the WEG could support. The WEG is also administered on the Agency’s behalf by Herefordshire Council.
D) Farm Health Capital Grant
This scheme was launched in November 2009 and includes grant funding for livestock farmers via the Farm Health Capital Grant (FHCG). Lantra have co-ordinated a panel of regional vets to produce Farm Health Plans which will identify potential capital investments that the FHCG could support.
West Midlands Farm Health Planning Initiative
Led by Lantra, the approach and process for provision of farm health plans and associated capital investments has been defined and is now operational. The initiative provides funding to farmers for the preparation of a Farm Health Plan by Veterinary Surgeons with the aim being to make significant improvements to the health and welfare of livestock and to business performance.
The Farm Health Plan will recommend a programme of activity and actions needed to improve performance of livestock enterprise under the following headings:
RDPE Farm Health Capital Grants, as referred to above, are available to help implement the recommendations from the Farm Health Plan. Applications for a Farm Health Capital Grant must be supported by a Farm Health Plan. Capital items must be identified as a priority within the plan and be able to demonstrate an improvement in farm performance.
Nutrient Management and Resource Efficiency small grant schemes
We are currently developing smaller grant schemes for nutrient management and resource efficiency on a similar basis to the REG, WEG and FHCG grants highlighted above. We aim to launch these in April 2010 and further details will follow.
Business Support, Training, Skills, Collaboration and Enabling projects
RDPE funding has now been awarded to a range of projects and schemes aimed at supporting rural businesses and the agricultural industry in the region. Business Link West Midlands will provide business advice, support and guidance, including support in pursuing capital investment grant opportunities. The Lantra Landskills scheme will offer skills and training opportunities, whilst specialist industry bodies support supply chain collaboration activities and enabling projects for the livestock, food and drink and tourism sectors.
Further information and links to these schemes will shortly be available on a revamped RDPE section of the Advantage West Midlands’ website.
LEADER
Leader is the chosen approach to deliver the social and community measures of RDPE and enables a ‘bottom-up’ community involvement approach to rural development. All Local Development Strategies (LDS) have now been approved and funding agreements signed with the Accountable Bodies for the 8 Local Action Groups (LAGs) operating in the region.
LAGs are currently appointing staff and becoming operational and some are now in the process of receiving Expressions of Interest and approving project applications. For more information on the Leader approach and for Local Action Group contacts please follow the attached link.
The monthly update can also be downloaded from the related document section.
The next update will be available at the start of March 2010.