Central government have provided local authorities with a sum of money through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
East Hampshire District Council designated this money to help rural communities through the Grow Up! programme - and as part of that set up the rural business network.
About the grant
To support this programme, central government has provided East Hampshire District Council with the Rural England Prosperity Fund (the ‘rural grant’) which will provide capital grants to rural businesses and community groups. This fund will be available until March 2025.
The rural grant will be available for grants of between £15,000 and £50,000 – and depending on the community and social impact may require no match funding at all. Eligible business projects may have to provide match funding of up to 50%.
Recipients of the previous rural grant
This year’s allocation is £302,493.
Apply for the grant
The application window launched on Monday 5 August 2024 and will close at 11:59am on Thursday 12 September 2024.
You will need a MyEHDC account to apply.
- Rural grant - frequently asked questions (pdf 160 kb)
- Rural grant - example of the application form (pdf 214 kb)
- Rural grant - guidance notes (pdf 313 kb)
- Rural grant - scoring criteria (pdf 250 kb)
Webinar to answer your questions
East Hampshire District Council ran a webinar to answer your questions on Wednesday 7 August, which will be recorded. The link to the recording will be added to this webpage.
Book your place on the webinar, please email business@easthants.gov.uk.
Rural business network
The rural business network aims to provide opportunities for rural organisations and businesses to:
- receive support and advice with running their businesses, and be signposted to the latest legislation, financial advice and training;
- discuss the issues which are affecting local rural businesses and provide opportunities for likeminded land-based professionals to meet up;
- learn about diversifying their businesses or exploring opportunities for growing new crops to be more resilient to climate change, and explore local outlets for their produce;
- support the next generation of land-based workers by offering apprenticeships and traineeships;
- support new land-based businesses;
- help to develop local solutions to issues such as rural crime;
- explore opportunities to improve digital connectivity for rural businesses;
Events
The rural business network held its inaugural event in Selborne in January 2023, and has since:
- met at Liss Pavilion, Goldfinch Books Alton, Petersfield Museum and Merchistoun Hall Horndean to discuss sustainability in rural communities,
- hosted a farm walk in East Meon and a farm walk in Wield
- discussed recruitment in rural employment at an event in Privett and a funding opportunities event in Chawton
- hosted the new directions event in Alton in October
The next meeting will take place in Passfield in Autumn 2024.