The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has recently secured a windfall £1.74m through the Rural Development Programme for England to invest in projects that directly support the rural economy in the LAG area. This includes Frome. The LAG will have the ability to support innovative projects that best address its local priorities via 6 priority objectives:
- Support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification;
- Support for rural tourism;
- Provision for rural services;
- Support for cultural and heritage activity;
- Support for increasing farm productivity;
- Support for increasing forestry productivity
The Heart of Wessex LAG programme will be officially launched at an event on Wednesday 17th June (Doors 6 pm) at the Cheese & Grain in Frome. Guests will be able to enjoy live music and light refreshments will be available. Booking is either online at https://heartofwessexlaglaunch.eventbrite.co.uk or a registration form can be picked up from the Frome Information Centre and brought to the event.
The aim will be to give participants more detail about the programme and how it works, explain how anyone who lives, works or has an interested in the LAG area can become involved and play an active role in developing the programme, and how projects can apply for funding.The LAG will be “open for business” shortly with the first call for project applications expected in July. However, the Programme Manager, Sarah Dyke-Bracher is keen to hear from anyone who has a project idea and would like to find out if it would be eligible for funding. If you want to be involved in the Local Action Group, or have an idea for a project, please contact Sarah on 07826 907361 or sarah@heartofwessex.co.uk or visit the website: www.heartofwessex.co.uk
Frome Town Council is supporting the launch and is directly involved in the Heart of Wessex initiative.
