Rural areas of Caerphilly County Borough are to receive a £3.3m funding boost through the Welsh Assembly and European Union.
Caerphilly schemes that will benefit from the cash include a project to improve the physical environment of villages and communities and the Vibrant Villages and Healthy Harvests, which works with local farmers to increase access to local markets and sustainable energy for farm households.
The Caerphilly County funding boost is part of a £54m package delivered through the Rural Development for Wales.
Cllr Ron Davies, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said: “The Rural Development Plan is a very important mechanism for developing rural communities, so I’m delighted that will be developed in the county borough with the aim of improving the quality of life in rural areas.
“Importantly, the project ideas come from Local Action Groups, with input from local people, who are best placed to decide what their communities need in order to improve the environment, economy, or local tourism.
“The projects will help to support rural economies in the county borough as Wales continues to feel the effects of the worldwide recession and the UK government spending review.”
The Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union through its European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development jointly fund the Rural Development Plan for Wales.
One of its main aims is to improve the quality of life in rural areas and to support the rural economy.
The Caerfilli Cwm a Mynydd Partnership has successfully attracted the funding by working with local organisations and community groups to develop projects.
A total of ten projects have been approved so far and will start in March 2011. All projects will come to a close at the end 2013.
For more information, contact Caerfilli Cwm a Mynydd on 01495 235495 or visiting www.cwmamynydd.co.uk