HORTICULTURAL owners and businesses have only a few weeks to plant the seeds of success for their enterprises.

They have until June 19 to apply for a share of £300,000 of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Funding as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme. From March 23, up to £300,000 of EAFRD funding was made available to Worcestershire businesses that propose projects which contribute strongly to growth in the horticulture sector, with the opportunity to receive grants from £35,000 up to approximately £100,000. Applicants must be Worcestershire-based horticulture owners and businesses who are able to demonstrate that their project proposal would not occur without grant funding. Priority will be given to projects which invest in equipment to support growth and accelerate the adoption of new technology to improve productivity in the sector. All applications must provide 60 per cent of the project cost to receive up to a maximum grant of 40 per cent. Calls for funding will only be open until June 19.

Gary Woodman, executive director of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "Worcestershire LEP is one of five LEPs to utilise EAFRD funding to support new and expanding businesses. We want to see an increase in rural jobs, particularly in higher-paid, more highly-skilled jobs and in gross value added to the rural economy. We would, therefore, urge interested parties to come forward in this call for funding before the deadline.”

The 2014-20 European Structural and Investment Funds growth programme launched in March with the key objectives focusing on improving local area priorities, including research and innovation, supporting small and medium size enterprises, creating a low carbon economy, increasing labour market participation, promoting social inclusion, developing people’s skills, supporting micro and small rural businesses, investing in small scale renewable and broadband investments, and supporting tourism activities.