Grants
of up to £5,000 are now available to help businesses in rural parts of
Somerset bounce back after the coronavirus pandemic.
The
Rural Services Grant Fund is part of a £6m package of funding from Somerset
County Council which aims to kickstart the county’s economy.
The
Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on many rural communities in
Somerset. The £5,000 grants (up to 80% of project costs) are now available to
assist service businesses in rural areas to help them move forward and become
more sustainable. A business will need to provide 20% of their own match
funding.
Cllr
David Hall, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy,
Planning and Community Infrastructure, said: “This has been a really tough 18
months for our rural businesses and we’re committed to helping them get back
on track.
“This
grant is for items that will help a business provide further services or
enhance their trading – so to provide an online sales platform or an
increased trading space. It’s a great opportunity and I would encourage
eligible businesses to step forward and ensure they don’t miss out.”
The
application process is open to:
- Sole
Traders providing rural services
- Businesses
providing rural services
- Town and ParishCouncils
- Local Community led
organisations operating on a not-for-profit basis and are legally constituted
The
fund launches today (26 August 2021) and will close at 5pm on 10 September
2021. Initial applications will be treated on a first come, first served
basis but we will need time to check eligibility and respond. To apply you
will need to complete an Expression of Interest form which can be found at Somerset
Recovery Fund – click on Rural Renaissance Rural Services Grant.
Once
your Expression of Interest has been reviewed, if the work is eligible and
appropriate, you will be invited to submit a Full Application. This will then
require three quotes, further details of the
aims/objectives and trading accounts to enable us to assess the project
fully.
If
you require further information please email your query to RRGrants@somerset.gov.uk.
The scheme is part of theSomerset
Recovery Fund – a wider £6m package of funding from Somerset County Council to
kickstart Somerset’s economy in the wake of Covid-19.This fund will include financial support for businesses,
financial support for individuals and a range of other measures to stimulate
the economy and boost the county as it recovers from coronavirus.
ENDS
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