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Businesses in West Norfolk urged to apply for Rural Capital Grants

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West Norfolk Rural Business Capital Grants provide funding to 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.

The scheme is being delivered by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership on behalf of the Borough Council.

There is a limited pot of funding available to support projects and grant applications will be considered on “first-come, first-served” basis. Businesses can apply for grants between £10,000 and £100,000. The maximum grant intervention through the programme will be for 50% of eligible capital costs, up to a maximum value of £100,000. Match funding must be secured and projects must be ready to proceed immediately and be fully completed by 31 December 2024.

There are two strands to the business grants available:

• Capital grants for micro and small enterprises in rural areas: this grant pot provides capital funding opportunities to support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes projects such as: farm businesses looking to diversify income streams; businesses seeking to invest in more productive and efficient operational equipment to achieve reduction in carbon emissions on their road to net zero; conversion of farm buildings into other commercial or business uses; creation and expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses; purchase of equipment for food processing for non-farmer-owned businesses; and funding for infrastructure to protect local business and community areas from natural hazards.

• Capital grants for the development and promotion of the visitor economy: these grants are aimed at developing local attractions, trails and tourism products more generally. Projects can include developing local visitor trails and infrastructure to support this, such as information boards, visitor centres and the wider development of visitor experiences based on the local rural offer.

Businesses wishing to apply for support should contact the Growth Hub here