About the Funding Opportunity
The aim of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (the Rural Fund) is to help improve productivity, strengthen and benefit the rural economy and rural communities. In Tees Valley, the Rural Fund can only be used to finance capital projects for small rural businesses and communities in rural areas of Redcar and Cleveland*.
The Rural Fund allocation for Tees Valley is £624,909 and this will provide capital grant funding of between £3k-£15k to eligible businesses and communities.
The Rural Fund provides support for rural areas in Redcar and Cleveland to provide small scale capital funding to:
PLEASE NOTE
In Tees Valley, the Rural Fund can only be used to finance capital projects for small rural businesses and communities in rural areas of Redcar and Cleveland*.
*As defined by the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Rural Businesses
- Support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams and businesses in the fishing industry.
- Funding (capital grants) for small scale interventions in micro and small enterprises.
- Funding (capital grants) for growing the local social economy, including community businesses, co-operatives and social enterprises.
Rural Communities
- Support new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the economy.
Funding (capital grants) for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities.
Indicative Timeline – Funding Round 1
What type of applications are we looking for?
Projects must deliver activity that is in line with the Tees Valley UKSPF Investment Plan and align with the following Rural England Prosperity Fund Interventions:
Supporting rural business
Funding (capital grants) for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas.
Funding (capital grants) for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation. (This intervention corresponds to the UKSPF intervention E26)
Supporting rural communities
Funding (capital grants) for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities. (This intervention corresponds to the UKSPF intervention E6).
All projects must be financially complete by 31st March 2025.
If you have any questions, please send them to UKSPFenquiries@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk
For more information and to apply visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority website