We've submitted the 8th of our regular reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the rural impacts of the recession. Our briefings help inform his contribution to the National Economic Council, which meets to consider impacts of the recession and recovery measures.
This report examines how market towns are being affected by the recession, and makes suggestions for government actions including:
improving access to government business & economic support funds over the next 12 months
activation of the Town Centre Initiative Fund, announced in April 2009, ensuring market towns and larger rural villages are eligible to apply
finding new ways to give rural people and market towns better access to support for job seeking & training
Read our latest report to the Secretary of State
Please keep your contributions for our reports coming. Your submissions and evidence are central to helping Ministers and decision makers hear the rural voice.
Find out how you can contribute to our reports
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4909
seen at 16:21, 21 July in Commission for Rural Communities.