30 October 2012
Two States funded schemes designed to enhance Jersey’s natural environment and help rural and marine businesses will open for applications for 2013 grant funding on 1 November 2012.
The Countryside Enhancement Scheme (CES) aims to enhance Jersey’s unique environmental features while the Rural Initiative Scheme (RIS) exists to support rural and maritime businesses that want to diversify.
The Countryside Enhancement Scheme
The CES is open to any individual, partnership, organisation, school, business or States department that wants to develop and implement a project that:
- enhances, conserves and protects Jersey’s natural environment on a local scale
- implements Island wide strategic projects that will enhance biodiversity and/or the access infrastructure
- assists with the delivery of the Island’s commitments to international Multilateral Environment Agreements and local environmental objectives.
Rural Initiative Scheme
The RIS is designed to help rural and marine businesses diversify, improve efficiency and combat climate change. It is open to all land and sea dependant activities to assist with business development projects that:
- increase the penetration of niche markets and development of new ‘value added’ processes and markets
- improve productivity and sales, and reduce costs
- raise the share business receives within the supply chain
- improve skilled employment opportunities, through job creation, education and training
- assist rural businesses to adapt and mitigate against climate change
- develop and implement new waste management procedures
- promote and develop new rural tourism initiatives
- implement best practice operating procedures throughout the rural sector
- encourage local producers to evaluate export market potential.
Assistant Minister for Economic Development and the Department of the Environment, Deputy Carolyn Labey, said: “The CES & RIS are key parts of the Rural Economy Strategy for 2011 -2015, providing support for the rural sector to enable them to safeguard the Island’s countryside and biodiversity and improve rural business efficiency and profitability.
“By providing grant assistance the States are recognising the importance of the countryside environment to the quality of life of the Island’s population and that the rural sector is an important part of the business mix required for Jersey’s future.”
Applications forms and guidance are available on the States of Jersey website . All applications must be sent to the Scheme Administrator at Rural Economy, Howard Davis Farm, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5JP by the 31 January 2013 to be considered by either the CES or RIS panels.
Anyone wanting further advice or information should contact the Rural Economy Section at Howard Davis Farm.
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