Second Round of Rural Retailers Grant Aid Scheme Announced

Following the success of the first round in 2010, 15 rural retailers were awarded a total of £7,000 between them, helping to fund a range of improvements to support their business development.

Successful applicants included:

Catkins Tea Rooms, Cooper Croft Garden Centre, Herstmonceux

Grant of £500 to assist with extension and improvements to the tea rooms to enable greater community use and easier access for wheelchair users. Total project cost: £1,050.

Chiddingly Village Community Shop, Farleys Farm Yard, Muddles Green

Grant of £500 awarded to help the Chiddingly Community Trust set up a not-for-profit volunteer run village shop, run by and for the community. Total project cost: £31,000.

Country Necessities, Coopers Croft Garden Centre, Herstmonceux

Grant of £500 awarded to help widen the provision of goods and services. Total project cost: £7,000.

Wealden Farmers Markets (Crowborough, Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield)

Grant of £500 per Market awarded to assist with the 'Smarten Up' project which aims to develop a common brand for Wealden Farmers' Markets. Total project cost:£4,058.

Gill Wing Farm Shop, Eridge

Grant of £500 awarded to help buy counter display units to promote products grown on a mixed organic farm. Total project cost: £3,000.

Kudos Foods & Post Office Stores

Grant of £132 awarded to help with staff training to serve locally-sourced food. Total project cost: £264.

May's Farm Cart (IRM Enterprises Ltd), Herstmonceux

Grant of £250 awarded to help provide smoked local meat products. Total project cost:£500.

The Old Dairy Farm & Shop, Furners Green

Grant of £500 awarded to provide a walk-in cold store for the storage of fresh meat to enable
more meat to be sold directly from the farm. Total project cost: £3,350.

The Stores, Rushlake Green

Grant of £500 awarded to update the shop's refrigeration equipment to attract a wider customer base. Total project cost: £2,299.

The Village Shop Upper Dicker Ltd, Upper Dicker

Grant of £500 awarded to develop the range of locally-produced foods sold in the shop and café area. Total project cost: £1,000.

Wealden Wholefoods, Wadhurst

Grant of £500 awarded to purchase a new dishwasher for the café. Total project costs: £2,236.

Windmill Hill Post Office & Stores, Herstmonceux

Grant of £500 awarded to replace existing awnings to enhance the shop front and provide shelter for the adjacent bus stop. Total project cost: £1,000.

We are now pleased to announce the availability of the second round of this Grant Aid Scheme to help support independent rural retailers in their longer-term viability and/or to help them support their local community by enhancement of the services offered.

We know that many small rural retailers are often essential to the vitality, well-being and sustainability of our rural communities, as well as providing environmental benefits by reducing the need to drive further afield for goods and services. We are keen to provide practical support to see these businesses survive the recession, and thrive. This Grant Aid Scheme is therefore specifically designed as a shot in the arm for rural retailers to help with identified one-off costs and to support longer term plans that they may have for business growth.

Rural Retailers will be able to apply for a maximum grant of £500. Each application will be assessed against eligibility criteria (see list below), and applicants are requested to completed the standard form together with other supporting information if necessary.

Criteria

The business must be independently owned (not a chain)
A maximum of £500 can be applied for per business
Funds will only be for a maximum of 50% of total project costs
Quotes from at least two suppliers must be submitted for items or services purchased
Only one application can be submitted per business
Items must not have been purchased before the grant is approved
Applications must be received by 31 December 2011 at the latest. Funding will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so please send in applications as soon as possible.

Projects must do one or more of the following:

Support the local community (e.g. by purchasing equipment for community use, such as computers, books, photocopiers, tables and chairs for communal use)
Improve the local environment (e.g. by improving the outside appearance of your shop or outlet, by purchasing items such as bins, plant displays, benches, wildlife tables etc)
Improve economic viability of the business (e.g. by promotional materials, new or enhanced website, signage, additional or upgraded equipment to increase range of goods sold, training etc)
Increase the sale of local produce (e.g. by promotional activities, additional or upgraded equipment, improved signage, developing partnerships between producers/retailers, supporting the provision of a venue for sales, training etc)

Application forms are available to download in both pdf and word format:

Download the application form as a pdf
Download the application form as a word document

For further information about the scheme and to request an application form, please contact the Economic Development & Tourism Team on 01892 602884 /6/7 or email: regeneration@wealden.gov.uk