Rural Business Growth Grant

Rural Business Growth Grants (max 50% award of project costs)

The types of projects that can be funded from these grants are shown below, these lists are not exhaustive.

Awards can be made for:

• Rural businesses or landowners seeking to diversify their operations through introducing new products or expanding their facilities and through investment in environmental measures (including flood or nutrient neutrality mitigations).
• For businesses which have exceptional growth potential, which could lead to greater employment or sustainability.
• For rural businesses based in local centres towns and villages across the district to utilise on improved look and feel investments (shop fronts etc.) and connections across the District.

Evidence required:

To be able to fund more than £10,000 we will need to have the following:

• 3 months' worth of recent bank statements from all accounts for the whole household, including savings and investments.
• Business Plan
• Accounts for the past 2 years
• Financial forecast

Guidance notes

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling / ongoing basis, and awards made subject to the availability of funding within the overall grant pot.

Evaluation process will require applicants to demonstrate how they meet the criteria, with commensurate detail depending on amount of funding required.

The fund is significantly constrained by our funders requirements, and hard criteria exist which need adherence:

1. All spend must be completed by the deadline - there is no scope for extensions. All projects are at applicants' risk should they fail to meet deadline
2. Spend must be compliant with the Council's procurement requirements outlined in any award
3. Payment will be made in arrears - we cannot pay in advance of scheme completion

Apply for a Rural Business Growth Grant