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RDPE - Future Funding for the WARR Area
With the imminent closure of the Leader+ programme (December 2008) the WARR Partnership is now bidding for further funding under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007-2013, a proportion of which must continue to be spent using the Leader method.
The timetable for this process is currently as follows:-
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Submission of draft Action Plan
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30 November 2007
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Submission of final Application
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18 January 2008
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Successful bids announced
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9 May 2008
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Successful Local Action Groups operational
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July 2008
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Whilst full details of the criteria of the new programme are still emerging, it is clear that funding will be allocated 50/50 between the following themes:-
1. Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors (helping them to return to profitability and/or diversify)
2. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification (helping communities and businesses to address disadvantage, diversify and strengthen the rural economy, and mitigate/adapt to climate change)
Details of the levels of grant funding to be permitted are still to be clarified, but we understand that economic projects could receive up to 30-50% grant funding (subject to state aid clearance), whilst community type projects could receive up to a maximum of 80% grant funding. Match funding in all instances must come from the private sector.
As part of the new bid, the WARR Board have taken the decision to expand the area to include the whole of rural Rother and the whole of rural Wealden. As the programme remains a rural one, with a per capita ceiling of 150,000 per Local Action Group, the urban areas of Bexhill-on-Sea, Uckfield and Crowborough will be excluded.
For more details about the RDPE, please visit www.seeda.co.uk and click on Rural Issues.
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