DARTMOOR’S economy is set for a boost as the £2-million Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund is open for applications.

Business and community projects are invited to apply for a share of £2-million from the Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund (GD LEAF) 2015-2020. Applications are now open for projects which create jobs and help the rural economy grow in farming, forestry, enterprise, tourism, rural services and cultural/heritage activities. GD LEAF will remain open while funds are available.

Dartmoor National Park Authority is an active member of the GD LEAF partnership, originally set up in 2008 to invest in environmental, economic and community-based projects to encourage innovation and promote the prosperity of the Greater Dartmoor area. The current Greater Dartmoor LEAF programme is again being managed by the DR Company, based in Okehampton.

Jo Rumble, Dartmoor National Park’ communities officers, said: ‘The new Greater Dartmoor LEAF programme has already committed funding to some great projects across Dartmoor, including the food, farming and forestry sectors. We look forward to supporting more projects that will help to grow Dartmoor’s economy and continue to make it a great place to live and work.’

DR Company managing director Liz Abell said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Greater Dartmoor LEAF to get this much-needed funding out to local businesses. The GD LEAF is an established partnership of local people who care about Dartmoor and the surrounding area and are actively involved in its development. We set up our local strategy based on an intensive period of consultation to establish up-to-date priorities and identify key themes that matter to local people, so that it could meet its objectives of creating jobs and boosting the rural economy.’

To apply for the funding, or for more information, visit drcompany.co.uk/gdleaf