Warwickshire County Council on behalf of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership has received nearly £230,000 worth of applications in response to round one of its new grant scheme for small rural businesses.

The £500,000 scheme, which is funded by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Rural Development Programme for England, is part of the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network.

It is estimated that the projects submitted will create 47 jobs and safeguard another 28 as well as lever in over £400,000 of private sector investment.

Cllr Alan Cockburn, deputy leader of Warwickshire County Council with responsibility for economic development, said: “Part of both Warwickshire’s Going for Growth agenda and the CWLEP’s strategy is to stimulate the rural economy and the Rural Growth Network grant funding is helping to achieve this”.

“The grant scheme is part of a wider package of support including specialist advice, one-to-one mentoring, coaching, loans and property. We would encourage rural businesses in any sector and people looking to start their own business to contact us to find out how the Rural Growth Network can help.”

The projects submitted will now be assessed against the funding criteria before consideration by a grants panel.

The next deadline for applications is noon on the 27th September 2013.

Applications are particularly sought from micro businesses operating in the manufacturing, digital media and low carbon sectors. Applications from women-led businesses are also encouraged.

Grants from £10,000 to £100,000 are available for eligible projects and applicants will be supported by Warwickshire’s Rural Growth Network Team and the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Support team.

Warwickshire County Council is leading the Rural Growth Network on behalf of

the Local Enterprise Partnership.

The micro-enterprise grants are part of a wider package of access to finance activities overseen by the Local Enterprise Partnership including Growing Places and the Regional Growth Fund.

For more information about the Rural Growth Network visit

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ruralgrowthnetwork

or call Tel 01926 412709.

Kind regards

Amanda Wilson-Patterson
Localities & Communities Officer
Communities
Warwickshire County Council

Telephone: 01926 413642 (internal 3642)
Mobile: 07780 995817

For further information on the Stratford-on-Avon Area Office visit