In the East Midlands, rural areas (including market towns) contain around 40% of the region's population compared to the national average of 20%. To be sustainable, rural communities need access to services, and opportunities and support for their businesses, infrastructure and people. Some of the ways emda are working towards achieving this are by:
- Providing a full range of business services to rural businesses
- Access to high-speed ICT initiatives such as 'Broadband for all'
- Access to learning and skills for workforce development
- Working with partners to improve the rural infrastructure e.g. transport, workspace etc
- Ensuring that SSPs and other partners recognise and help tackle the needs of rural businesses and communities at a local level.
Providing creative as well as financial support, conference partner emda is one of nine Regional Development Agencies set up to bring a regional focus to economic development.
If you are quick you'll be able to catch this Radio 4 programme focussing on Market Towns and featuring an East Midlands Market Town, Melton Mowbray. Meet the Chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association who is a vegetarian!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/inbusiness/inbusiness.shtml
Posted by: Simon Berry | October 02, 2006 at 06:52 PM