Grant fund for farmers - open 9 July until 3 September

Grant fund for farmers opens today - Countryside Productivity Small Grants Scheme (CPSGS) Round 2 is open for applications. CPSG Round 2 will pick up where Round 1 left off, offering grants of up to £12,000 to support farmers in improving animal health and welfare, resource efficiency and nutrient management. Grants are available for all farm types including livestock, horticulture and arable businesses, with a total pot of £15 million available for Round 2 to fund investments in new technology. To apply, applications are made via an online portal that can be accessed via this link. The Countryside Productivity small grant scheme will be open to applications from 09 July 2019 to 03 September 2019 and full details will be published on gov.uk. The Countryside Productivity landing page will be updated to include links to the applicant handbook and online application portal. The application portal will be open for 8 weeks from 09 July 2019 until 03 September 2019. Visit Dorset Leader for more information.

Extra grant funding available for rural businesses through Heart of Wessex

Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has secured additional funding for rural businesses – but be quick, time is short. Rural businesses and organisations across south and east Somerset and south Wiltshire are being encouraged to apply for EU grants designed to support the local economy before it’s too late. The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group (LAG) has recently been awarded an additional programme allocation of c. £200,000 to invest in projects that directly support the rural economy in the LAG area and is now open to new Expressions of Interest from eligible businesses and organisations. So far the LAG has invested £1.7 million to successful projects, and applicants are encouraged to apply quickly if they wish to be considered for grant support. Sarah Dyke, the Heart of Wessex Programme Manager said, “We are delighted that we now have more funding available to support rural businesses in our area and would like to encourage more great project ideas to come forward as soon as possible as all grants must be awarded to successful applicants by the end of June”. She added, “Funding is not guaranteed and will only be awarded to projects that make the greatest contribution to the local economy and offer best value for money by creating new jobs and increasing productivity”. Eligible applicants are businesses, farmers, foresters and community groups across the Heart of Wessex LAG with grants starting from £5,000 up to £100,000 with the LEADER programme designed to promote business growth and job creation in rural communities. Projects should support the LAG’s Local Development Strategy and the six National priorities which are: support for increasing farm productivity; support for micro and small enterprises and farm diversification; support for rural tourism; provision for rural services; support for cultural and heritage activity and support for increasing forestry productivity. The window of opportunity to apply is short however. All Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 15th May and subsequently, Full Applications by 15th June. All projects must be approved and contracted by Friday 28th June. All grant payments must have been made by 31st December 2019. Further details about the projects which have been awarded a grant funding can be found on the Heart of Wessex website (www.heartofwessex.co.uk/approved-projects). For more information on LEADER funding, the Heart of Wessex LAG and how to apply, please visit www.heartofwessex.co.uk . Alternatively call Sarah on 07826 907361 for an initial chat, she would be happy to hear from you and can quickly advise if your project meets the funding criteria.

Grants for micro and small businesses and farm diversification

The hunt is on for some more great project ideas that fit with LEADER Priority 2: Support for micro and small businesses and farm diversification Grant funding has unexpectedly become available. The Local Action Group’s window to approve applications and run projects is time-limited so don’t miss out on this opportunity. Deadline for Expressions of Interest 18 March 2019 • Grants available for projects in micro or small businesses, including social enterprises in the LAG area – See Map • Projects must be based on capital expenditure – usually equipment or construction costs. • Grants from £5,000 to £100,000 are available; up to 40% of the eligible costs, with 60% match funding supplied by private sources (e.g. your own funds, bank loan, friend and family etc. but not another public source • Projects must be ‘ready-to-go’ – that means • You can have all the permissions and licences needed for the project before you submit the full application. • You can meet the procurement requirements – that is three quotes for most items. • You have your match funding agreed. • You can finish your project and claim this year. • This scheme has a two-stage application process. Time is short – If the expression of interest is eligible you will be invited to submit a full application quickly For more information see the Priority 2 section in LEADER Applicant Handbook and contact Sarah 01305 228699 or Melita 01305 225525 for an Expression of Interest form and to discuss the eligibility of your project. https://dorsetleader.org.uk/apply/

The Calor Rural Community Fund is opening for applications on Tuesday 5th March 2019

What is the Calor Rural Community Fund? Whether you have a village hall that needs refurbishing, a community group in need of new equipment, a community play park overdue some upgrading, or something else that you feel would be of value to your rural community, the Calor Rural Community Fund is here to support you. The Calor Rural Community Fund is designed to give something back, by offering rural communities that aren’t connected to the mains gas grid the chance to gain funding for projects that will improve local life. We’re offering grants of up to £5,000 for projects that will provide an on-going service for local communities. So whether you want to support a youth club or start a class for older members of your community, our fund is here to help. This year we are also pleased to announce that we’ve not only increased our total funding pot to £70,000, we’re also partnering with Crowdfunder to give you the opportunity to raise even more funds... watch this space to hear more! https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/communityfund

Dorset County Council has re-opened its Community Innovation fund

Dorset County Council has re-opened its Community Innovation fund to back inventive community projects that can help improve local people’s lives.

There is a total of £75,000 available to Dorset-based community organisations that can show how their project would help achieve the outcomes for local people set out in the county council’s corporate plan.

These are grouped into four key outcomes: making sure people in Dorset are safe, healthy, independent and have a prosperous economy.

The fund aims to support community groups to deliver services that meet local people’s needs.  Successful projects will be those that target people with the greatest needs and reduce demand for the council’s services by giving people the support they need early on.
Groups are invited to bid for grants of up to £8,000. There is also a ‘Micro’ grants fund for smaller amounts of up to £2,000 as the council wants the fund to be able to reach all parts of Dorset’s communities.

Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset County Council leader, said
“We want to support community projects that can demonstrate how they support the council’s top priorities for local people.

“For example, as part of our aim to ensure people in Dorset are healthy we want to make sure people adopt healthy lifestyles and lead active lives.

“The important element is that the projects must be resident-driven with evidence of the benefits for people and the contribution they will make to helping improve the lives of people in Dorset.”

Apply for a grant through the Community Innovation Fund, view the application guidance and support materials.
This round of the grant will close on Friday 21 September.
http://d4u.org.uk/XCRNH