Visit Alford workshop to find out if EU funding could boost your business

On Tuesday January 23, a workshop will take place at Alford Manor House in West Street, which will showcase EU funding opportunities for micro, small, and medium-sized rural enterprises in the Greater Lincolnshire area.

Among the funding programmes to be discussed is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, which is making £4.2 million available for projects focused on food processing, business development and tourism.

There will also be a chance to learn more about the LEADER programme, which provides grants to support projects that help to grow the rural economy.

So far, the LEADER programme has granted £1,968,646 to 54 local businesses and organisations across the county, creating 113 direct jobs - and there is still £4,715,756 of funding available.

Projects already supported include:

• A packing and holding area for dispatching mail order plants and the purchase of an automated transplanting machine.

• The installation of a mustard seed cleaning and drying plant

• Conversion of an agricultural warehouse to create a venison and red meat processing factory and the purchase of a skin pack machine.

• Conversion of a redundant farm building to a micro-brewery and the purchase of the brewing equipment

• A flow wrapping machine for packing broccoli and red/white cabbage to supermarket requirements

• A woodland forwarder for a sawmill

• An indoor children’s play barn at a farm attraction

• Luxury wooden wigwams to expand existing and create new glamping sites

• A new build multi-purpose village hall/community hub

• Fitting out a new café/bar in a growing village

The event will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Places can be booked online at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/european-funding-workshop-to-promote-funds-to-rural-businesses-tickets-41138962745