£300k per year to revitalise rural communities
The Mid Suffolk Rural Support Fund has been created to support towns and villages outside of Stowmarket, with a variety of different funding opportunities available for local businesses and community organisations to benefit from.
£300,000 is available to be applied for each year, with the money allocated from the Mid Suffolk District Council Ambitions Programme.
Funding can be used for, but is not limited to, the following:
• Helping with the purchase of threatened community assets, such as shops, pubs and community cafes
• Making physical improvements to shopfronts
• Supporting local markets and food initiatives
• Improving the local environment
• Establishing art and culture events
• Encouraging the integration of sustainable travel services,
• Bolstering digital infrastructure
Cllr Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “Rural communities are the lifeblood of our district and we are proud to have so many wonderful towns and villages to shout about.
“By introducing the Mid Suffolk Rural Support Fund, we are aiming to impact many different aspects of rural life – whether it’s preserving much-loved community assets and bringing them into community ownership, or helping our businesses improve their look and offerings.
“I look forward to seeing the wide range of benefits that this funding will bring over the coming years and would encourage organisations to take full advantage of this far-reaching support.”
As of Monday, 28 July, rural businesses can apply for grants to improve their shopfronts, while communities can apply for financial support to help with the purchase of their assets.
The remaining branches of the Mid Suffolk Rural Support Fund will then be rolled out over the coming months.
To submit an application or find out more information, businesses should visit the Heart of Suffolk website and community organisations should visit the Mid Suffolk District Council community funding page.
