Rural Growth Programme reopens for applications –
The Government has reopened the Rural Growth Programme for applications.
The Expressions of Interest window will close at midnight on 16th February 2020.
Following the earlier rounds which saw £100m of grant awarded, a further £35m is being made available under this new round.
A minimum grant size of £20,000 has been announced which should enable more micro and smaller businesses to benefit from support in this round.
The same three themes from earlier rounds – Business Development, Tourism Infrastructure and Food Processing – remain with maximum grants under the Business Development and Tourism themes limited to £ sterling equivalent of €200,000. The maximum grant under the Food Processing theme will be limited to £750,000.
To help applicants, three Handbooks, one for each priority theme, inform about eligibility criteria and other considerations for grant awards.
Full information here.
New Funding for Entrepreneurs Setting up Rural Firms –
Forest Holidays has partnered with the Prince’s Countryside Fund to create the new Rural Start-Up Fund, with the aim of supporting new business ventures in rural areas of the UK. The scheme is intended to help entrepreneurs overcome the challenges associated with setting up and working in rural settings.
A total of £5,000 is available in 2020, to be awarded to one winning business or shared between a number of rural start-ups. In addition to financial support, winners will have the opportunity to receive mentoring support from a member of the Forest Holidays team for 12 months.
Full information here.