The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has been awarded over £8.1 million by the Government from the Growing Places Fund to provide upfront capital funding for physical infrastructure. Funding will provided in the form of a loan and will be subject to interest charges.
The Marches LEP is inviting project proposals to be submitted from local authorities, the private sector and any other interested parties for the first funding award round which opens on 18 April 2012 with awards likely to be made in June 2012.
Any scheme coming forward would need to address the Marches LEP Higher Level Objectives, these being:
- To stimulate sectors with a history of successful operation in the Marches
- To seize opportunities presented by rebalancing an economy which currently has 28% public sector employment
- To create and facilitate the conditions and infrastructure most needed to enable and accelerate rates of business growth, including maximising opportunities for new technologies such as ‘superfast’ broadband and bringing forward land and premises fit for future business needs across the Marches, including delivery of a successful Enterprise Zone
For further information about the fund including the criteria, and the Expression of Interest template along with details of contacts who you can discuss potential projects in advance of bring forward a formal proposal please follow the link through to the Marches LEP website.
Link to the Marches LEP website
Visit the Access to Funding section of the Marches LEP website to find out more about the Development Fund