Harborough District Council - Rural Grant Scheme
Product Description:
Capital grant funding to support businesses located in identified rural areas in the Harborough district. The grants will help businesses to diversify, innovate or grow and span across four themes:
Scheme 1 - Farm business diversification
Supports farm businesses to diversify their business activities outside of agricultural activities. Such projects should improve business resilience, development, and revenue.
Examples of eligible projects: Creation of tourism and leisure attractions, new product or service development, converting farm buildings or land to other commercial or business uses.
Scheme 2 - Innovation and growth
Support micro and small enterprises in rural areas looking to deliver innovative projects. Funding will support projects that change the way businesses do something, to improve efficiencies and to generate more income. Projects will need to demonstrate how they are helping to overcome a rural issue or barrier they face in order to growth.
Examples: Investment in a new technology allowing you to bring a process in-house, or investment in a new line of products or services.
Scheme 3 - Green Technology/infrastructure
Support businesses to invest in energy efficient and low carbon technologies. This means businesses can invest in green technology that will improve their carbon footprint. Businesses could also use this funding to develop their own green technology which can be used to improve the carbon footprint of their business and/or other businesses.
Examples: Investment in renewable energy generation, or Electric Vehicle charging provision.
Scheme 4 – Rural Tourism
Capital grants to develop local tourism attractions, facilities, or infrastructure to enhance the rural visitor economy and increase opportunities to attract visitors to our rural areas.
Examples: Creation of new tourism attractions or the development of existing tourism attractions, or investment in rural accommodation or hospitality facilities.
Area of Expertise:
Farm business diversification
Innovation and growth
Green Technology/infrastructure
Rural Tourism
Eligibility:
Eligible businesses located in rural areas of Harborough District (as identified in the policy) could benefit from capital grants between £5,000-£20,000 to support their business to diversify, innovate and grow. The grants are being managed and distributed by Harborough District Council using funding received from the government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is an extension of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The application deadline for the Harborough Rural Grant Scheme is Friday 27 September 2024.
Application Process:
Website: www.harborough.gov.uk/rural-grants