GRANTS
Agricultural Business Development Scheme ( ABDS)
The ABDS is a business development scheme for farmers/crofters and their immediate families. It operates under the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme within the legal framework of the Rural Development Regulation.
The ABDS can provide assistance towards investments in agricultural holdings and the development of new, or the expansion of existing, agricultural or non-agricultural diversification enterprises, either on or off-farm/croft, to increase the income-generating capacity of the farming family. The scheme is discretionary with all applications being subject to a selection process - reviewed in funding tranches by Project Assessment Committees.
Legal occupiers of agricultural units within the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme area who have been actively engaged in agriculture for a minimum of two years are eligible to apply to the scheme for both investments in agricultural holdings and diversification projects. The maximum possible grant linked to an eligible agricultural business is £40,000.
Agricultural businesses should be aware that applications will only be accepted after prior submission and SEERAD approval of a Business Plan.
Anyone considering an application to ABDS should also be aware that 2006 is the final year of the scheme. The final deadline for receipt of applications is 1 September. No applications can be accepted after that date.
For information on future support, see note on the Scottish Rural Development Programme ( SRDP) on the inside front cover.
CONTACT & INFORMATION -SEERAD Area Offices or Scheme Co-ordinator, Longman House, 28 Longman Road, Inverness, IV1 1SF, Tel: 01463 253 065 or visit the Scottish Executive's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/abds