Josie Gough (Convergence Secretariat) explained, “The purpose of the fund is to enable private sector businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to realise some of their low carbon ambitions. Through the fund, ERDF Convergence will support investments in operations that will have a significant impact on reducing carbon impact and increasing energy and resource efficiency.”
She continued “The overall objective is to offer grants that both help businesses to invest in reducing their carbon footprint but the fund should also have a wider impact on the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. These wider benefits could include a demonstrable impact on the local supply chain, ‘firsts’ for Cornwall, dissemination of good practice and, where appropriate, links with other Convergence investments such as the Environmental Sustainability Institute (ESI) at Exeter University.”
The call for applications will be launched 25 April 2011 and will be followed by a workshop to provide more information and to respond to questions from potential applicants.
Applications for between a minimum of £70,000 of ERDF Convergence investment up to a maximum of £1 million can be made. In all cases this investment must be matched by the applicant at a rate that will be dependent upon the size of business and project proposal.
It is anticipated that successful contracts will be issued in the autumn (2011) following the usual ERDF appraisal and endorsement processes. The call will be advertised on the South West RDA European website and through the Convergence Partnership Office newsletter.
This process will be managed by the Convergence Team at Cornwall Council. For further information contact Janet Bowen at jbowen@cornwall.gov.uk
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For further information please contact:
Janet Bowen, Convergence Team Support Officer, Cornwall Council. Tel: 01872 224213.
E mail: jbowen@cornwall.gov.uk
Editors’ Notes:
Convergence:
For further information see: www.convergencecornwall.com
Convergence helpline telephone: 0800 0280120.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£391 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) and will run until 2013.
South West RDA:
The South West RDA works for and promotes a modern, stronger and more resilient economy across South West England. Our work involves creating better jobs, successful businesses, more prosperous cities, towns and villages within an economy that uses less carbon and will still be thriving in 20, 50 and 100 years time. The Government has announced that regional development agencies throughout England, including the South West, will be abolished by March 2012.
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