Deadline: 12-Sep-25
The Stroud District Council is delighted to seek applications for its Rural England Prosperity Fund to support capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure which improves productivity and strengthens the rural economy and local communities.
The capital grant scheme is open to existing micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees), small businesses (fewer than 250 employees), social enterprises and community groups.
Funding Information
- Minimum grant: £5,000
- Maximum grant with 60% match funding: £20,000
- Maximum grant with no match funding: £10,000
Eligible Projects
- REPF will support projects within the following categories:
- Growing the local social economy and supporting innovation
- Small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas
- The development and promotion of the visitor economy
- Existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions which make up the local cultural heritage offer
- Local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities
- Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups
- Rural circular economy projects
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses:
- Micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees), small businesses (fewer than 250 employees) and social enterprises/CICs. You must be registered with Companies House or have a partnership registered with HMRC for at least 3 years. The grant is not available to sole traders.
- The business must be based and trading from a business premises (i.e., subject to business rates or an agricultural premises that is exempt from business rates) and located in an eligible area within Stroud district.
- Applications may be made by a business on behalf of a group of businesses/organisations (as a partnership or consortium) who wish to collaborate on a project.
- New start-up businesses may apply; however, you must have a business bank account.
- Community organisations:
- Applications are welcomed from town and parish councils, registered charities, higher and further education institutions, public sector organisations, social enterprises, CICs, and constituted community groups based within eligible rural areas.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Grants cannot support projects that are already underway. Any costs incurred before email confirmation of the grant award are not eligible and will not be included in grant payments. For the avoidance of doubt, retrospective project costs are not eligible
- Projects which require planning permission and do not have this in place at the time of application
- Farm equipment or grants for farmer-owned businesses diversifying within agriculture
- Working capital, e.g., rent payments, stock purchases
- Private vehicles
- Salary costs and funding for the payment of wage subsidies
- Activities which would contradict, duplicate, or undermine HM Government domestic initiatives.
Application Requirements
- You must submit:
- A completed application form
- A minimum of 3 quotations/screenshots per item of expenditure or a detailed best-value explanation.
For more information, visit Stroud District Council.