Rural development programme now open

Businesses, community groups and individuals that have innovative projects that could help meet some of the economic, social and environmental challenges facing Powys could get help thanks to a rural development programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arwain, the LEADER programme in Powys, is designed to get local people, businesses and communities involved in delivering sustainable and innovative solutions to address some of challenges facing the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This programme has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme focuses on delivering a bottom-up method for encouraging and promoting rural development. Support is primarily aimed at small-scale pilot projects that are innovative in nature and can be from community groups, social enterprises, businesses and individuals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The projects will need to be community led, respond to community need and will be able to sustain themselves long term when funding has stopped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is now inviting expressions of interest for projects within the county which promote social inclusion, reduce poverty and develop and sustain rural village communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is not a grant scheme but aims to use innovative methods to assist communities in addressing the need in their areas by developing basic services, creating sustainable, resilient villages and improve the local environment. This fund is for revenue costs only. LEADER is able to fund up to 80% of the overall eligible costs of a project up to a maximum of £100,000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This programme is essential to supporting our rural communities in a meaningful and sustainable way. Not only are rural development projects important to the county, they also encourage and help rural communities to think about the long term potential of their area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would urge anyone who has any projects that can help their community to submit an expression of interest so it can be considered.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is no deadline for expressions of interest as they will be accepted on a rolling basis. If an expression of interest is successful and it is invited to submit a full application, this will be considered by the One Powys Local Action Group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For more information about Arwian visit www.arwain.wales or contact Powys County Council’s Rural Development Plan Team by emailing rdp@powys.gov.uk or calling 01597 827378. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​