Tourism businesses in Greater Lincolnshire are being urged to bid for money from a European fund which aims to support growth in the visitor economy.

Grants of up to €200,000 (approximately £140,000) are available from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for investments in new or improved products or services for visitors.

Businesses, farmers, landowners and rural communities have until 5pm on 27th November 2015 to submit their bid. Projects must be located within the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership area.

“Worth more than £1 billion a year to Lincolnshire and employing 39,000 people, our visitor economy is one of the most important growth sectors for Greater Lincolnshire,” said Chris Baron, Resort Director at Butlins in Skegness and tourism lead on the board of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“2015 has been a fantastic year for our tourism industry, with projects like Lincoln Castle Revealed bringing more and more visitors to our beautiful region.

“But we can still do more, and it’s important that rural businesses and visitor destinations take full advantage of this funding, which is there to help us to grow the tourism industry in Greater Lincolnshire.”

Applicants need to register on the website https://www.gov.uk/claim-rural-payments before applying. For support call the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301 or email GPEnquiries@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.

For more details about the EAFRD tourism funding call visit www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/tourism-call-in-greater-lincolnshire-14rd15to0002.

Notes to Editors:

• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a private and public sector partnership led by the private sector which aims to improve conditions for infrastructure and doing business in the Greater Lincolnshire area.
• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming, tourism and engineering.
• It includes North and North-East Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire and is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.
• Visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk for more information.

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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