06 December 2010

Rural areas covered by LEADER, a European Community initiative to assist rural communities to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity, can apply for grants to support super fast broadband in their area. In South Yorkshire this covers North Sheffield and Penistone and District. Yorkshire Forward, who are offering the scheme, can do a postcode search to check your area's eligibility.

60% of project costs can be met by the grant - the applicant or another organisation or broadband subscription set up charges must provide the remaining 40%.

The types of projects which may be supported are:

• Upgrades to existing ICT infrastructure to exceed the universal standard of 2mbps
• The installation of new hardware needed to adopt ‘next generation' broadband with speeds of up to 50mbps.

Applications are sought from communities with limited or no access to broadband.

Yorkshire Forward, who are running the scheme, are also interested in hearing from broadband technology suppliers interested in providing broadband solutions on a community scale.

Applicants need to submit an expression of interest form to Yorkshire Forward by 25 March 2011.

For more information see the Yorkshire Forward website here.