Successful LEADER projects can be paid up to 70% of total cost

A LARGE INCREASE in the rate Moray LEADER will fund projects and strengthen the local economy has been announced.

Previous funding rounds under the scheme offered support for up to 50% of the cost of a project – however, with £3.5million currently available it will boost that rate.

Moray Local Action Group (LAG), who run the programme, have this week decided to increase the rate to 70% – and that means applicants will only need to find less than a third of their funding from other sources.

Moray LEADER Programme Co-ordinator Norman MacAskill said: “This is big news for potential applicants to the new Moray LEADER Programme and we hope it will encourage more applications from across Moray.

“Above all, we want to get this money out the door and working for the good of the Moray economy and communities.

“We know that finding match funding can be a huge challenge for organisations and businesses, and this will take some of the pressure off them and mean they could only have to find less than a third of their total funding from elsewhere.

“Anyone with an idea for a project that contributes to achieving the aims of the Moray Local Development Strategy should get in touch to talk it over with us. If it looks like a good fit with LEADER, we’ll help them to turn that idea into a strong funding application and a successful project.”

Anyone interested in applying for funding from Moray LEADER can find out more at morayleader.org.uk or by emailing info@morayleader.org.uk or calling 01343 818570.