Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that £138million will be made available for local communities as part of the LEADER project.
As part of the project, and following a competitive selection process, 80 Local Action Groups covering 85% of rural England, and made up of local businesses and voluntary groups, will be able to allocate money to rural businesses and kick-start new projects to deliver local jobs and growth. The project previously ran from 2007-2013 and was used by rural entrepreneurs for projects such as farm diversification, to boost forestry productivity, promote tourism and support cultural heritage.
Anne-Marie said: “I am delighted that my efforts to lobby ministers to introduce further funding for the LEADER project has paid off. It has been a great success in Northumberland, and I am very pleased our two fantastic groups will be able to move forward.”
Northumberland hosts two LEADER groups: the Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group (NULAG) and the Northumberland Coast and Lowlands LEADER group, both of whom support projects which create jobs and encourage growth.