£4.6m funding pot announced for Cornish businesses

A new £4.6m pot of funding for rural communities and businesses has been launched in Cornwall.

The money is for investment into community infrastructure and nature-based solutions that maximise Cornwall’s unique natural assets and sit alongside wider aims around net zero transition and nature recovery.

The Rural England Prosperity Fund, awarded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), will be delivered alongside the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Fund.

Applications for the Rural Fund are open now with a closing date of 24 of July 2023. Successful applicants will have until the end of March 2025 to complete their projects.

The funding has been allocated by DEFRA under the government’s levelling up agenda. It is in addition to the £132m Shared Prosperity Fund awarded to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to benefit communities, business and improve skills as well as to tackle inequalities in deprived areas.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy, said: “I urge community groups and businesses in rural areas to seize this opportunity to apply for a good amount of funding that could help them deliver projects to improve the life of residents, enhance their local area and help our economy.

“The Rural Prosperity Fund has been designed to reach into the most rural areas of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly so that everyone can benefit.”