West Berkshire rural business boost
The council still has nearly £300,000 of grants to distribute by March next year
Rural business in West Berkshire have so far received funding grants worth £160,000 from West Berkshire Council to help boost the local economy and promote sustainability.
Small rural businesses can apply for grants worth between £10,000 and £40,000 to help them to grow sustainably – for example by adopting new production methods or transforming derelict farm buildings into commercial spaces.
West Berkshire Council has a total of £297,994 to award in grants before March 2025.
Since the scheme was launched in December 2023 a total of £159,846 – just over half the available funding - has been awarded to six local businesses. Successful applicants have also collectively contributed £30,495 of match funding – putting in their own funding to help the grants funding to go further and emphasising their dedication to boosting economic development and promoting sustainability in our rural areas.
Applications to the scheme remain open with additional grants set to be awarded later this month and again in September.
Rural economy
Speaking about the grant, Councillor Louise Sturgess, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said:
“It’s fantastic to see such a positive response to the grant so far. The applications we’ve received have really demonstrated the diversity of the rural businesses we have across West Berkshire. The projects funded so far will help strengthen our rural economy’s sustainability and resilience and help keep our communities vibrant and viable for the long term. It’s not too late for other businesses to get involved and with funding still available we’re working hard to get it to local businesses before the scheme closes next year.”
The grants are being distributed by West Berkshire Council and form part of a wider Rural England Prosperity Fund which has seen almost £600,000 in grants funded by the UK Government to support the rural economy in West Berkshire.
For more information, visit West Berkshire Council REPF Grant Scheme here