Selaine Saxby welcomes confirmation that North Devon will benefit from £1,091,259 of new funding to support local businesses and create jobs to grow the rural economy. Local councils will receive the funding between 2023 and 2025 to invest in farming, helping to boost rural tourism and improve community infrastructure projects.
Projects benefitting from the additional funding will improve community facilities and support arts and culture to grow local tourism. Agricultural businesses looking to expand their remit and rural businesses looking to launch or grow will also receive investment.
The extra funding builds on the Government’s commitment to level up rural areas by delivering major upgrades to connectivity through Project Gigabit. The share of rural premises with access to gigabit capable connects has already increased by 11 per cent since January 2021 alone.
The Government is investing £110 million into local areas through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, a top-up of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund gives local leaders more say over the spending of funds in their area than previous EU funding for rural areas and is delivering on the commitment to allow England to take back control of its own growth investment.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, said:
“It is fantastic to see the Government building on its support for rural areas like North Devon. We are fortunate to have so many innovative businesses here in North Devon producing great local produce and providing a diverse range of services.
“This fund will support those businesses looking to start up or expand further, and I am delighted that this Conservative Government recognises the need for rural specific policies and funds. It is another step to unleashing the full potential of the rural economy and levelling up areas like North Devon.”
Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:
“Driving investment in rural areas is a vital part of our vision for levelling up the country.
“The new Rural Prosperity Fund replaces the bureaucratic EU funding system-allowing us to work closely with local leaders to direct funding where it is most needed to close the rural productivity gap, create job opportunities and protect the English countryside.
“This confirmed spending will allow local authorities to deliver on their plans to level up businesses and communities in rural areas from today, in line with their residents’ priorities.”
