To apply for funding under the Supporting Rural Communities priority, please apply online through the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund Application form.
The fund supports capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure. This will help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
The Rural Fund is integrated into the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which supports productivity and prosperity in places that need it most. The Rural Fund is a rural addition to UKSPF allocations and supports activities that specifically address the particular challenges rural areas face. It is complementary to funding used to support rural areas under the UKSPF.
For more information please visit Rural England Prosperity Fund: prospectus - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) has been awarded a total of £540,460 in funding for projects which will be delivered between 2023 and March 2025. £135,115 has be awarded for projects to be delivered by 31st March 2024 and a further £405,345 will be available for projects taking place between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025.
The fund will finance projects which are to take place across rural areas throughout South Kesteven. For Rural Fund purposes, rural areas are:
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towns, villages and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside
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market or ‘hub towns’ with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services.
The key objectives for business projects are:
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increase investment in and targeted support for small and medium sized businesses for
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innovation activities
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productivity enhancing, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques
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to create jobs and boost community cohesion. This includes visible improvements to local retail, hospitality and leisure sector facilities
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enhance rural visitor economy and rural leisure opportunities
The key objectives for community projects are:
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Strengthen our social fabric and foster a sense of local pride and belonging, through investment in activities that enhance physical, cultural and social ties and amenities. This includes:
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community infrastructure and local green space
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community-led projects
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heritage assets
Allocations
The allocations across the interventions for this year and next year are as follows:
Year 2 (1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024)
Supporting Rural Business
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Intervention 1.1 - £60,115 (capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro & small enterprises in rural area.)
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Intervention 1.3 - £25,000 (capital grant funding for developing and promoting the visitor economy)
Supporting Rural Communities
- Intervention 2.4 - £50,000 (capital grant funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the local cultural heritage offer)
Year 3 (1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025)
Supporting Rural Business
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Intervention 1.1 - £180,345 (capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro & small enterprises in rural area.)
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Intervention 1.3 - £75,000 (capital grant funding for developing and promoting the visitor economy)
Supporting Rural Communities
- Intervention 2.1 - £100,000 (capital grant funding for investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities.)
- Intervention 2.4 - £50,000 (capital grant funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the local cultural heritage offer)
How to apply
To apply for funding under the Supporting Rural Business priority, please click here to apply.
To apply for funding under the Supporting Rural Communities priority, please apply online through the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund Application form.
Applications will be considered at Shared Prosperity Fund meetings which are taking place on:
Monday, 11th December 2023 – cut off date for applications 9am Monday, 13th November 2023
Monday, 19th February 2024 – cut off date for applications 9am Monday, 22nd January 2024
Monday, 11th March 2024 – cut off date for applications 9am Monday, 12th February 2024
Monday 13th May 2024 – cut off date for applications 9am Monday, 15th April 2024