The Year 2 Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) has opened for applications on Monday 11 March. The Fund aims to support new and existing rural business, to develop new facilities and projects beneficial to the wider local economy.
There are three themes available under this programme and three times the amount of funding available compared to last year, a total of £761,384. Please contact your rural networks and communities, local parishes, voluntary and community groups, to put projects forward.
There is a maximum of £50,000 available per individual project and projects funded by other DEFRA schemes cannot apply for this REPF funding. The three themes are:
- £304,554 capital funding available for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises (less than 50 workers) in rural areas, targeted at businesses and farm diversification.
- £137,049 capital funding for investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities
- £319,781 capital funding for any rural circular economy projects
All relevant information, application forms and guidance can be found here.
Cllr George Cowcher, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said: "This is an extremely important funding which can be crucially helpful to rural businesses and projects around Stratford-on-Avon district. We want to ensure that we are genuinely assisting rural businesses and communities which get fewer opportunities to bid for funds. I therefore urge all applicants to find out as much as they can about the scheme and put forward an application".
George Bostock, County Adviser for Warwickshire NFU, said: "Agriculture is currently moving through its biggest change in generations with severe volatility in the industry. Having discussed the REPF at length with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the fund will give farmers the financial support and ability, in many cases, to look into ways of boosting their on-farm productivity and efficiency, whether that be through machinery, equipment or on-farm diversification, to name some examples. This will offer the option to safeguard and build their business for the future as well as enable farmers to look at ways to further support the south Warwickshire environment".
There are two information webinars, delivered in partnership with Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA), which offer more information and support to applicants:
- Wednesday 13th March 2024, 6.30pm-8.00pm
- Thursday 21st March 2024, 8.30am-10.00am
Please use this link to book your place.
The call for applications will close on Tuesday 9 April at midnight.
