Countryside Alliance News

European Growth Programme invites applications

Written by Countryside Alliance | 4 May 2016

Defra reports: The European Growth Programme provides funding to help projects which create jobs and boost the economy in England. These grants are funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) manages the grants, working with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and local partners.

The RPA invites applications for grants in specific LEP areas. Calls for applications are currently open in a limited number of LEP areas, as part of an initial phase, before the programme opens fully. These calls will only include some of the grants listed below, depending on local priorities.

The website states that calls for applications will open across the country "from June." The grants that are available will reflect the priorities of each local area and may include:
• Business development
• Business start-up
• Renewable energy
• Small scale tourism infrastructure
• Tourism co-operation
• Food processing