29/11/2005

Minister announces £3m rural development fund

Rural Development Minister Jeff Rooker has encouraged relevant bodies to apply to a £3 million fund.

Organisations engaged in developing environmental activities or those interested in developing tourism and craft activities were encouraged to take advantage of the latest round of Rural Development Funding.

Announcing the launch of a call for applications to a Sectoral Based Competition of the Rural Development Programme under the Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity, Jeff Rooker, said: "This Competition is designed to address both the needs and the opportunities for specific sectors of the rural economy, environment or society that can best be tackled by projects or programmes that can impact on a province wide basis or wherever the sector is present.

"I would encourage eligible organisations to consider this opportunity to develop their sector with the funding available from the Rural Development Programme. In particular the department is keen to receive well-developed proposals from organisations representing or targeting women, youth, the long-term unemployed, farmers and farm families."

'Expression of Interest' forms must be lodged by the closing date of 16 December 2005.

(MB/SP)

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