Ribble Valley Councillors in Longridge and Clitheroe and are urging local small businesses to take advantage of loans being provided by the Rural Lancashire Development Fund , administered by Lancashire County Developments Limited an organisation set up by County Council. Rupert Swarbrick, Chairman of Ribble Valley Enterprise Partnership and Longridge Town Team member commented ; ''As the economy continues its slow climb out of recession, businesses located in rural areas of Lancashire can access growth finance through the County Council's £500,000 Rural Lancashire Development Fund. Local businesses should look to see if they can take advantage of these loans.'' ''Available to new and existing limited companies, the finance deals range from £2,000 to £10,000 by way of unsecured loan with a reduction on repayments of up to 50% based on achievement of agreed business targets.'' Clitheroe Councillor Simon Farnsworth commented '' As Clitheroe small businesses struggle out of recession additional finance is helpful away from the restrictions placed upon them by banks . There are rewards for successfully reaching targets and growing small business can fill the gap left by reductions in expenditure and employment in the public sector'' Longridge Councillor Ken Hind commented ''With the majority of Lancashire classified as Rural / Non-urban (Defra Rural/Urban definitions 2004) locations that will qualify as business areas for support include, Garstang, Longridge and Clitheroe . Details of areas that qualify on the LCC web site .'' ''LCDL can also provide finance to businesses in urban areas whose activities directly support the rural economy of Lancashire. This could include food processing facilities, auction marts and outdoor activities organisers amongst others. As Longridge is a major food producer and a Food Festival is being considered for 2011 , this an source of funding which the Town Team and local organisations should look at.'' All members of the Longridge Business Group will be e-mailed with the details. |