£3.6m to support rural business in Lancashire

5 January 2016

Rural companies in Lancashire are being encouraged to apply for a share of £3.6m to grow their business.

Lancashire County Council has announced the funding through its new Lancashire LEADER programme 2015-2020.

The funding can be used for a range of different uses, such as buying equipment and refurbishing buildings – if the project meets the criteria for job creation or growth.

The LEADER funding comes from the Rural Development Programme for England 2014 – 2020, which is administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

County Councillor Jennifer Mein leader of the council, said: "We're urging businesses to apply for this funding that will help them to create new jobs and growth.

"In previous years we've supported many companies across Lancashire and your company could benefit as well.

"The programme encourages the involvement of local rural communities. Decisions on which companies to fund are taken by local representatives from businesses, the public and community organisations. They use their local knowledge and expertise to decide how to allocate the funding in their area."

Companies who've previous benefitted from this funding include:
• Box Tree Farm – Wennington near Lancaster
• Canal Boat Cruises – Hoghton
• Envirosystems – Barton
• Hollin House Green Farm – Aughton
• Innova Solutions – Colne
• Pimbo Garden Centre – Skelmersdale
• Printed Cup Company – Clitheroe
• Old School Brewery – Warton, near Carnforth
• Richard Mason Fitness – Nether Kellet, near Carnforth
• Samlesbury Hall – Samlesbury
• Sandhams Cheese – Barton
• Woods Farm Shop – Little Hoole

There are three locally-appointed groups in Lancashire, known as Local Action Groups (LAGs).

Each LAG is made up of representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors, who meet once a year to set a local development strategy for their local area.

The LAGs cover these parts of the county:
Lancashire North: Lancaster and Ribble Valley, as well as parts of Wyre and Pendle
Lancashire West: Preston, Fylde, West Lancashire and parts of Wyre.
Lancashire Pennine Moors – Chorley, South Ribble, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle (part) and the following areas of Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Wigan.

To find out more about the funding and how it could help your business, contact Karen Lawrenson on 01772 538797 or Louise Kite on 01772 534134, or email [email protected].

For more details about the funding or to sign up to receive a newsletter, please visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/rural-development.

Image shows Chris Sandham, from Sandhams Cheese in Barton.

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