New round of rural project funding opens

Rural businesses are being given the chance to apply for up to £25,000 of funding to support new projects.

Expressions of interest from eligible groups are now being invited for round two of the Malvern Hills Rural Fund.

Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) said successful applicants may only spend the money on physical projects, such as new equipment or machinery, and not for staff or day-to-day running costs.

Councillor Beverley Nielsen said the funding provided "a great opportunity for new businesses or existing ones to access support to grow and develop".

Small business, charities, and further education institutions in the Malvern Hills area are among the organisations eligible to apply for grants of between £2,500 and £25,000, funded by MHDC and the government's Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Previous winners include a facilities management company in Hanley Swan which was awarded more than £7,500 to renovate its office, and a husband-and-wife team who turned their front room in Upton-upon-Severn into a pub.

This is the second round of funding this year, with the first having closed to applications on Monday.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 7 July, while full applications must be submitted by 18 August.

Decisions on both rounds will be made at the end of July and September respectively.

Successful applicants must complete their projects by next January.

Full details are available on the MHDC Rural Fund webpages.

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