WORCESTERSHIRE will increasingly rely on the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) to provide vital rural support, a national summit held in the West Midlands was told.

Advantage West Midlands’ partnerships director Phil Roberts urged delegates at the Commission for Rural Communities event to make the most of RDPE.

He reminded them that there was more than £25 million available to assist crucial projects and local businesses involved in food and drink, tourism, environmental technologies and livestock.

He also outlined the range of specialist support being directed into rural areas including an £11 million market towns initiative, the introduction of rural hubs and tailored help from the Rural Regeneration Zone.

Mr Roberts said: “These are tough times and the West Midlands is suffering more than any other region in this recession. In some of our market town’s unemployment has risen by 50 per cent. The West Midlands Taskforce, chaired by Regional Minister Ian Austin and coordinated by AWM, is focusing business support in market towns to help larger employers retain jobs and build resilience.

“In addition, £150,000 of extra support for advisory bodies, such as Citizens Advice, and a £250,000 package to support retailers is being rolled out.”

The summit, which aimed to push rural economies higher up decision makers’ agendas, is the third in a series of events following a report last year to the Prime Minister from Dr Stuart Burgess, the chairman of the CRC and the Government’s rural advocate on releasing the potential of England’s rural economies.