Boston Borough Council

www.boston.gov.uk

Business success is crucial to improving people's quality of life, and Boston has a unique role as the maritime borough of the East Midlands, helping to feed and fuel the nation.

One of Boston Borough Council's key priorities is to help make Boston a prosperous and progressive place - promoting Boston borough as a place for new and diverse business investment.

Boston Area Regeneration Company, known as BARC, was the first of its kind for the East Midlands region – a significant and far-reaching regeneration agency - with both an urban and rural focus. The Company was formally established in April 2006 to take forward and deliver the agreed regeneration priorities of the Local Area Masterplan, which complement the Community Strategy. Its role is to promote enterprise, sustainability and diversity and work with partners and external funders to help deliver the agreed Masterplan projects.

www.emda.org.uk

East Midlands Development Agency is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Their primary goal is to increase the economic growth of the region while reducing disparities between the East Midlands and other English regions.

Their key role is to be the strategic driver of sustainable economic development. They work in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations to deliver the goals of the Regional Economic Strategy, which they produce on behalf of the region — which is why they are the catalyst for change in the East Midlands.

Their vision is that by 2020 the East Midlands will be a flourishing region. A region made up of growing and innovative businesses. A region where skilled people are employed in good quality jobs.

www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) helps stimulate economic development and regeneration in the least prosperous regions of the European Union (EU).

Funding is targeted to meet three objectives set down by the European Commission (EC):

Convergence

Regional Competitiveness

Employment and European Territorial Co-operation

Since 2000, England has benefited from more than £5bn of ERDF funding, with a further £3.2bn Euros being invested in projects for the new round of programmes (2007-13). These programmes are designed to meet current needs by targeting employment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation, high-tech business investment, among other key priorities identified by each region.

www.lincolnshire.gov.uk

Located on the east coast, Lincolnshire is the fourth largest county in England and Wales. It covers an area of 5,921 sq km (2,200 sq miles). The traditional strengths of the county's prosperity - agriculture and engineering, are still there, together with the ancillary industries that have grown with them, notably distribution and food processing.

But growth is also beginning to come from tourism, high tech and new economy businesses that are recognising the unique potential of Lincolnshire as a platform for future growth.

The overall aims and objectives of the County Council are to improve the productivity, competitiveness, standard of living and the quality of life for the people and businesses of Lincolnshire.

www.lincolnshire-enterprise.com

Lincolnshire Enterprise is an independent, business led partnership between the private sector, local authorities, public bodies, voluntary and community groups across the Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire Enterprise is a key vehicle through which Lincolnshire County Council engages and consults with its partners to champion economic development and regeneration in the county. Lincolnshire Enterprises advises Lincolnshire County Council on the economic development of Lincolnshire, particularly in connection with the investment of government's Single Program funding in the county.