Hyperlocal in the spotlight with Destination Local

Local websites, community blogs and all manner of hyperlocal activity will be put centre stage by a new initiative looking to both study and importantly, fund, some projects.

The £1million Destination Local programme announced today is designed to “understand and stimulate the development of a UK hyperlocal media sector” and is led by Nesta and the Technology Strategy Board.

At Talk About Local we’re delighted to have been invited to become partners in what must be the biggest drive of its type to identify the technologies, business models, content opportunities and challenges in this space.

We’ve championed, cajoled, encouraged, developed and celebrated the great work which goes on up and down the country since we were formed in 2009 and welcome both the focus the initiative will prompt, as well as the coming together of expertise it is facilitating.

The two headline announcements today are calls for applications:

* Nesta is offering seed funding of up to £50,000 to test the next generation of hyperlocal media services. Applications open today at www.nesta.org.uk/destination_local

• The Technology Strategy Board aims at technology-focused feasibility projects and offers grant funding of up to £56,250. Applications will open on 23 April at http://www.innovateuk.org/competitions.

Nesta will be talking about the new programme at various regional events around the country including our Talk About Local unconference with n0tice.com in Birmingham on 28 April as well as events taking place in Wales and Scotland.

Nesta is also publishing today a landscape review called Here and Now: UK hyperlocal media today – we’ll publish more about that here in just a short while.