The Rural Development Programme in the West Midlands
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a new funding scheme for land based businesses (farmers, growers, foresters, and primary processors), rural tourism organisations and other small rural businesses. It will run from 2008 to 2013 and is jointly funded by the EU and the Government.
RPDE aims to safeguard and enhance our countryside, to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of our rural businesses, and help communities to thrive.
The RPDE programme is firmly grounded in national and regional priorities and aims to deliver them by working with rural businesses.
The RDPE will support the following activities:
• Projects that encourage businesses and/ or community organisations to work together, share ideas and improve training and skills.
• Business support and modernisation.
• Diversification into new services or products.
• Active management that enhances the countryside and landscape.
• Development of supply chains and reconnection the marketplace.
• Innovation and new product or process development.
AWM has developed a Regional Implementation Plan which has gone through several consultations with regional partners.
So, where have we got to?
The Rural Development Team at AWM is currently developing action plans to deliver the socio-economic areas of the RDPE for four specific sectors:
* Food and drink
* Tourism
* Environmental technologies
* Support for the livestock industry
A RDPE Partners Group, made up of industry representatives and delivery organisations, will determine the action plans. We will then publish them on our website and circulate them to organisations across the region, including Rural Hubs, Destination Management Partnerships, Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Authorities.
The action plans will be available here from November 2007, with funding expected to be available from the beginning of 2008.
From the 31st October 2007, the Agency is inviting Expressions of Interest from partners to deliver the social and community measures of the RDPE via the LEADER approach. To find out more about the Taking the Lead initiative and how you can engage in this process, please download the guidance document in the ‘Related documents’ section of this page.
You will find further information on the National Rural Development Programme on the Defra website.
If you have any specific questions then please contact the Rural Development Team:
The programme is funded jointly by the EU through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the UK Government.