Economic Development \ Economic activity and assistance \ LEADER+

The South Down / South Armagh Local Action Group Ltd which delivered the LEADER II Programme in Newry & Mourne are extending and strengthening their Board of Directors to develop a bid for LEADER+, and have re-named the Company Newry & Mourne Local Action Group Ltd.

The new partnership is broad based, has credibility, consists of local people and is a cohesive team with relevant experience and expertise in rural development.

Detailed consultation has taken place within the region, and a full examination of the socio-economic factors relating to the area has identified a series of micro-enterprise related priorities, necessary for a successful and innovative LEADER+ delivery. The priorities are:

• Enterprise Awareness
• Rural Business Expansion
• Rural Premium
• Product Quality
• Infrastructure
• Enterprise Observatory

Following analysis, the LAG have chosen to deliver the above priorities through a series of innovative approaches to enterprise development. The LAG will bond these priorities through the two nominated themes to present a consistent, coherent and innovative strategy for the region. The two themes are:

• the use of new know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive; and
• adding value to the local products in particular by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions.

On the basis of the costed priorities the Local Action Group proposes to apply for £1.5 million.

The transferability, networking and demonstrating factors of the LEADER+ Programme have been identified as a priority for the Local Action Group, and commitment has been made to participate in all LEADER+ activities.

The innovative methodology of LEADER+ will be further developed by the Local Action Group's adherence to seek new, original and ambitious methods of increasing the employment opportunities of the rural areas of Newry & Mourne.

The Local Action Group will organise sub-committees to reflect enterprise development and the dedication of LEADER+ on the target groupings of women, youth, farm families and long-term unemployed.

The Company's administrative unit will deliver the LEADER + Programme and the existing PIMS administrative system will be augmented to provide clear, concise auditable and transparent delivery of public funds, in an accountable manner.

Detailed monitoring and evaluation methods will be adopted to ensure quantifiable outputs, impacts and results for the programme.

The geographical area contains tremendous environmental assets, however the region languishes as the fourth most deprived region of Northern Ireland and having almost 10 per cent of the total agricultural workforce in Northern Ireland, is further disadvantaged due to the severe agricultural crisis.