Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ian Pearson MP, today urged small businesses to take advantage of the 700,000 available locally under the LEADER + Programme, by submitting their proposals to the Rural Area Partnership in Derry (RAPID). The programme is placing a particular focus on women, young people, farm families and the unemployed.
RAPID is a partnership organisation established in 1994 to implement programmes that support the economic and social development of rural wards in the Derry City Council area. The aim of RAPID is to stimulate new job creation in the rural area and enhance rural dwellers access to training and employment opportunities.
Mr Pearson today met the Directors of RAPID to gain greater understanding of their work and see some of the projects and initiatives RAPID is developing to regenerate rural Derry. During his visit, Mr Pearson also met with people whose businesses will benefit from the LEADER + Programme through RAPID. These included Ian Gamble of Ballyarton Fish Farm; Natasha Duddy who runs a sculptural glassware business; and Ian Mason of Solid Surface Technology, which manufactures a hard wearing solid surface material.
The Minister said RAPID is an organisation which has great benefits to bring to the local area. Rural regeneration is a vital element in ensuring that local business, the local economy and the local social fabric is secured and enhanced. Small businesses, including farms, make a vital economic and employment contribution to the rural economy, and we should encourage whenever possible, micro business development in rural areas throughout Northern Ireland. RAPID has done this very successfully in this area, and I am confident that it will continue the good work it started under the previous LEADER Programme.
