A new business grant scheme that will support rural businesses in Cherwell is set to launch next month.
Published: Friday, 27th September 2024
Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) to deliver its Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Business Grant Scheme to all eligible local organisations.
Thanks to monies from the council's Rural England Prosperity Fund allocation, businesses will be able to apply for grants expected to range between £5,000 and £20,000.
Up to 64 businesses will be able to register online to take part in a two-step application process for the grant scheme.
The scheme is set to launch with a webinar on Monday, 21 October, running from 10am to 12pm. Run by OxLEP Business, this webinar will support those with an interest in applying for funding to find out more, with guidance on how to apply, as well as understanding how decisions around the allocation of grants will be made.
Councillor Lesley McLean, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration, said: “Our rural communities are an important part of our economy in Cherwell and I am thrilled that businesses based in these areas will be able to access support to help them flourish.
“Rural businesses are the lifeblood of their communities and having the opportunity to grow will strengthen our rural economy and help everyone who works in it thrive.
“We are delighted to be able to support this through our Rural England Prosperity Fund and wholeheartedly encourage businesses to take advantage of this opportunity.”
The scheme will be looking to support capital investments in priority sectors including: retail, serving the local community, farm diversification (non-agricultural); food and drink production; hospitality and leisure; and manufacturing.
Successful applicants will also be expected to deliver tangible outcomes aligned to several ‘delivery themes’. They include: business retention and growth; green economy; investment in rural communities; strengthening the rural economy; and rural communities.
Helen Brind, Growth Hub Manager at OxLEP Business, said: “Working with Cherwell District Council, we are delighted to be bringing to Cherwell-based businesses a new grant scheme that can make a hugely positive impact on the area’s rural economy and – in turn – leverage several key sectors too.
“We expect such new, critical grant support to be embraced hugely and accessed heavily in the coming weeks – therefore, we would encourage those interested to join our launch webinar on 21 October and find out more on how the funding could be utilised within respective businesses.”
To find out more and to sign up to the 21 October launch webinar, head to: www.oxlepbusiness.co.uk/repf