A scheme to provide "rural entrepreneurs" with a cash boost is inviting applications.
The programme to unlock the potential of Merseyside’s untapped rural economy is seeking proposals of projects that could benefit from multi-million pound funding opportunities.
Ideas are being sought to make the most of the sub-region’s rural assets, stimulate business, and contribute to the wider economic development of the region.
Application forms, details of the scheme and associated reports can be found via the newly launched website www.merseyreap.co.uk Responses are required by Friday 5th March 2010.
Proposals can be specific to a local area or have a wider sub-regional relevance. Ideally, they will also support the delivery of the Liverpool City Region’s four transformational themes (Superport/Logistics, Visitor Economy, Knowledge Economy, and Low Carbon Economy).
The rural economy is of growing importance, employing over 21% of the sub-region’s workforce and contributing £4.6 billion to the area’s economic output. Despite being the most built-up part of the Northwest, only 42% of Merseyside is developed - the remainder is made up of farmland (30%), woodland (3%), and open space (25%). This “green zone” is therefore an extensive but under-utilised asset.
The rural economy describes any economic activity taking place within the defined rural area, as opposed to relating just to farming and agriculture.
The term similarly does not apply solely to open countryside, but also takes in some major employment sites and service locations such as the Science & Innovation Park at Daresbury and Clatterbridge hospital on the Wirral.
This call for proposals is an integral element of the Merseyside Rural Economy Action Plan (MREAP), a major study into opportunities for economic diversification, development and enterprise across Merseyside’s rural areas.
Research for the MREAP has been conducted by consultants Rural Innovation, and was commissioned by St.Helens, Sefton, Wirral, Halton and Knowsley Councils plus NWDA, The Mersey Partnership and Mersey Forest.
St.Helens Council is the lead partner for the delivery of the overall programme. Says Councillor Richard Ferry, Executive Member for Urban Regeneration at St.Helens Council, said on behalf of project partners: “Merseyside’s extensive existing rural land, settlements, businesses and people offer very significant untapped potential for careful growth, while the economic downturn has made it even more vital to look at using all our assets to their full.
“This call for proposals is intended to help us put together a comprehensive programme of projects. We will then use this to seek to draw down the significant funding that is available from various sources to deliver them, so it is in people’s own interest to come forward with ideas!”
For further information please see www.merseyreap.co.uk
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