More than £4 million of EU money is available for Cumbrian businesses in three sectors of the county's rural economy.

This cash - £4.3m in total - has been given to Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) via the European Agricultural Fund and can be used by the tourism, agriculture and food production industries.

A £1.3m investment is available to support the development of tourism infrastructure throughout rural Cumbria, with the aim of supporting projects which will encourage more tourists to visit the county, stay longer and spend more money in rural areas.

Funding of £1.5m is to assist rural business development with grants to enable farm diversification or business innovation and growth. Grant funding can help pay for constructing or improving buildings as well as buying new equipment and machinery.

The remaining £1.5m is being applied to help food processing businesses to develop and extend supply chains, enabling them to export their goods as well as achieving business growth. It is aimed at food and drink businesses which process agricultural and horticultural products.

These funding rounds are open for 12 months.

Graham Haywood, director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This is another valuable tranche of EU investment rounds focusing on growing a diverse and vibrant rural economy within the county. The funding is aligned with the county’s strategic economic plan, with a keen focus on innovation, opportunities to diversify, and helping rural businesses grow and create more jobs.

“The county’s businesses still have access to significant EU funding resources to help them achieve growth. Applicants can be assured that contracts in place will be fully funded, even if their projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.”

Corinne Watson, also from Cumbria LEP, added: “These latest funding rounds are part of the wider programme of EU backed investments which will emerge this year so that the county can take full advantage of its original planned allocation.

“It’s important to remind potential applicants that the European Structural Investment Funds programme is expected to be delivered until the end of 2020, so we’re keen to hear about projects which can benefit from this funding.

“We are also intending to work with colleagues in Defra (Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs) to run a workshop in the near future which will help interested organisations to develop successful applications.”

Cumbria is a recipient of funding from the European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) programme, which includes the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF).

European funding streams are managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government for ERDF, the Department for Work and Pensions for ESF and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for EAFRD.

For more information email corinne.watson@cumbria.gov.uk or search www.gov.uk.