This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Farm Business Development Scheme
30/11/2004
The Farm Business Development Scheme is to provide more than £550,000 to 29 projects in rural areas across Scotland, bring the total funding from the scheme to £10.9 million.
Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to boosting our rural economy and increasing employment opportunities.
"This support can be crucial not only to the success of a new business but also to the provision of services within our rural areas.
"I hope that those considering diversification will apply to the Scheme before it closes for applications in 2006 so that more rural communities can see the benefits of diversification."
For example Mrs Scott from Eyemouth received funding to help her add a playroom to her house - expanding her childcare business and helping to provide a much needed service in the local area.
The Farm Business Development Scheme is an innovative business development scheme for farmers and their immediate families operating across Lowland Scotland, covering the area from East Moray in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south.
Farmers in the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme (H&ISTP) area who have been actively engaged in agriculture for a two year period may be eligible to apply for grant assistance under the Agricultural Business Development Scheme (ABDS).
The FBDS was launched in July 2001. It is a discretionary and competitive scheme which provides variable grant assistance of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for farming families wishing to diversify either within or outwith agriculture. Funding is provided solely by the Executive.
Five locally based PACs assess applications. They are chaired by the Scottish Executive and consist of representatives from partner organisations including local authorities, local enterprise companies, Scottish Natural Heritage and local tourist board representatives, ensuring projects are in line with local strategies and can meet local priorities. Industry interests are represented by the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFUS) and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) who send representatives to observe PAC meetings.
There are a wide variety of measures eligible for FBDS grant. These range from projects in alternative agriculture, such as the growing of non-traditional crops, to providing rural services such as agricultural contracting, construction services, forestry services and boarding kennels, through to improving facilities for tourists and bringing redundant farm buildings into use for purposes such as quality tourist accommodation.
There are five local PACs covering Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, East South (Forth Valley, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Fife, Lothians), East North (the areas around Aberdeen), and West (Clyde Valley and Ayrshire).
The Scheme is delivered locally by six Area Project Officers - one for each of the PACs, except East South where there are two because of the size of the area.