Business leaders in the county have welcomed the news that Cumbria has
been named in the 2012 Budget as one of five pilot Rural Growth Networks
to receive a share of millions of pounds worth of funding from Defra
aimed at boosting rural businesses.
Cumbria's bid to become a pilot Rural Growth Network was submitted by
the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), with Cumbria County
Council as the accountable body for the funding.
Cumbria's bid was named alongside Devon and Somerset, Swindon and
Wiltshire, Northumberland and Durham, and Warwickshire as winning
through to become pilot schemes.
The precise level of funding for Cumbria is still to be confirmed by
Defra, and will also attract match funding, but it is anticipated that
the pilot will secure millions of pounds worth of investment in the
county's rural businesses, creating hundreds of new jobs and businesses.
Cumbria's bid focused on establishing eleven rural growth hubs around
the county, where businesses will be able to tap into business
facilities and support including training and networking opportunities.
The Rural Growth Network will link with the Connecting Cumbria broadband
project, prioritising hubs for Superfast Broadband.
The Rural Growth Network bid was developed on behalf of the LEP by
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Cumbria County Council, and involved
engaging with over 40 other stakeholders including Newton Rigg, Lake
District National Park Authority, the district councils and the
University of Cumbria.
Cllr Eddie Martin, Leader of Cumbria County Council and Cumbria LEP
board member, said:
"I'm delighted by the way everyone in the county has clubbed together to
present a really strong pilot project for rural growth. I'm even more
delighted that the Government has recognised the strength of our bid and
named Cumbria as one of the successful pilot schemes. It's really
important to invest in rural communities and businesses to make them
sustainable and self-starting."
Rob Johnston, Chief Executive of the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said:
"We've built a lot of innovation into this bid, particularly around
online activity and how we can close geographical distances with the
right technology. A lot of exciting initiatives will come out of this
project. I want our new status as a Rural Growth Network area to deliver
a much-needed boost for small rural businesses and encourage new ones to
take the plunge and start up, knowing that the support network will be
there around them."