We are continuing to invest in our businesses and communities as we are making £427,884 available as part of a Rural Fund Grant Scheme.
The Rural Fund will provide capital funding specifically aimed at supporting new and existing rural businesses to develop their products, services and facilities to help improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
It is aimed at supporting activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face and will provide capital funding to:
- Support rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams.
- Support improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy
The scheme has two elements to it:
- Smaller scale investments and/or equipment up to £20,000 with an intervention rate of 80%
- Larger capital investments of up to £75,000 with an intervention rate of 70%, to support, for example, building conversion
Council Leader, Councillor Steve Fritchley said, “Businesses across Bolsover District are still struggling and are looking for ways that they can improve their prospects or diversify into new markets, which includes our important farming community. This funding will help that process and we’re inviting them to apply.
“Developing our rural businesses and economies is a key priority for us. And with this in mind it’s appropriate that the money will not only be used to improve prosperity and a renewed focus on creating a greener approach to how they operate, but will also support infrastructure projects in our towns and communities, and act as a catalyst to further rejuvenation and investment.”
Businesses are invited to read the Rural Fund Guidance Notes before completing an expression of interest form by 19 May 2023, and if approved by the Grants Panel, a full application would then need to be completed.
Rural areas are defined as towns, villages and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside and market or ‘hub towns’ with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services – which covers the entirety of Bolsover District.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Notes to Editors: The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit GOV.UK.
