LOCAL businesses and community projects could turn over a new ’Leaf’ for the new year as applications open for a £2million pound fund.

The Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund is open to projects which create jobs and help the rural economy grow in farming, forestry, enterprise, tourism, rural services, and cultural and heritage activities.

The GD Leaf 2015-2020 fund will remain open as long as money is available.

Dartmoor National Park Authority is an active member of the GD Leaf partnership, originally set up in 2008 to invest in economic, environmental and community projects to encourage innovation and promote the prosperity of the area.

The current GD Leaf programme, like previous ones is being managed by the DR Company, based in Okehampton.

Dartmoor National Park communities officer Jo Rumble said: ’The new Greater Dartmoor Leaf programme has already committed funding to some great projects across Dartmoor, including in the food, farming and forestry sectors. We look forward to supporting more projects that will help to grow Dartmoor’s economy and continue to make it a great place to live and work’

DR Company managing director Liz Abell said: ’We are delighted to be working with Greater Dartmoor Leaf to get this much needed funding out to local businesses.

’The GD Leaf is an established partnership of local people who care about Dartmoor and the surrounding area and are actively involved in its development. We set up our local strategy based on an intensive period of consultation to establish up to date priorities and identify key themes that matter to local people, so that it could meet its objectives of creating jobs and boosting the rural economy.’

To apply or for details see http://drcompany.co.uk/gdleaf .