2017 has been a successful year for projects funded by the Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund (GDLEAF) and the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group (SDCLAG), both managed by the DR Company in Okehampton. Five of the shortlisted producers for the 2017 Devon Food and Drink Awards are businesses who have successfully applied for the current round of funding, and two more businesses who received funding from previous programmes were on the shortlist for the awards. On the 2nd November, South West Farmer’s Young Farmer of the Year 2017 has been awarded to GDLEAF funded Sam Bullingham.
Shortlisted for the 2017 Devon Food and Drink Awards were Hunts Cider and the Devon Distillery who successfully applied for funding from the South Devon Coastal LAG 2015-2020 while Clive's Pies in Buckfastleigh successfully applied for money through the Greater Dartmoor LEAF 2015-2020. The DR Company also helped two further businesses on the shortlist, the South Devon Chilli Farm and Yarde Cider, to successfully apply for grants from previous programmes. Sam Bullingham the newly awarded Young Farmer of the Year by South West Farmer received over £8,000 from GDLEAF 2010-2015 to help him establish his business and has now been awarded further funding from the current GDLEAF programme.
“The application process for these funding programmes is detailed and rigorous,” explains DR chairman Derek Phillips. “The benefit of this is that only the projects with the strongest business plans, and the clearest visions are awarded funding. This is why we are seeing so many of the projects funded by GDLEAF and SDCLAG receiving awards- they are well thought through, realistic yet innovative businesses who are able to demonstrate excellent project planning and efficient business management.”
The DR Company are currently managing the two LEADER funded programmes which seek to allocate between £2,500 and £150,000 of funding to projects in eligible rural areas in South Devon and Dartmoor. The focus of the programmes is to support job creation and help the rural economy to grow specifically in the areas of farming, forestry, enterprise, tourism, rural services and cultural heritage activity. Applications are still open and information can be found on the DR website www.drcompany.co.uk and DR can provide assistance to applicants in making their application.