Horsham District Council has been awarded over £800k to invest in local rural businesses and sustainable community projects.
The Council has reopened its Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to Expressions of Interest, for eligible business growth projects.
Do you have a business growth project which is:
New?
Sustainable?
In a rural location?
Boosting the local economy?
If the answer to these is yes, you can express an interest in applying for funds from the Rural England Prosperity Fund. The Fund is open to applicants until Thursday 30 November.
Projects such as farm diversification, projects to boost rural tourism and rural community infrastructure and projects including electric vehicle charging stations are all eligible for this funding. Recent rural local organisations to benefit include the Youth Hostel Association at Truleigh Hill which qualified for improved accessibility from their car park and toilet facilities with showers to enhance the visitor experience and a Pulborough-based business unit which successfully gained funding for solar panels at their facilities.
Commenting on the availability of the funds, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy and Place, Cllr Ruth Fletcher said:
I am so pleased we can offer even more support to help boost our local rural economy through these funds.
“We have seen some fantastic new projects come forward so far as a result of awarding these grants which will not only boost our local rural economy but also support rural biodiversity.
“I encourage anyone with an eligible project idea to submit their expression of interest whilst funding is still available.”
Read the guidance and submit your eligible project by 5pm on Thursday 30 November 2023 via the Council website.
Please note that the funding is for projects in rural areas in Horsham District, which excludes Horsham Town Centre. The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a central pillar of the UK Government's Levelling Up agenda. Horsham District has been allocated £871,733, which can be spent over two financial years (2023/24 and 2024/25).