Rural businesses in the Lichfield district could benefit from a share of £120,000 in funding which has been secured to help their growth and diversification.
A sum of £120,261 has been secured from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) by Lichfield District Council with expressions of interest now being accepted.
The scheme allows micro and small rural enterprises to apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £30,000.
The funding aims to support small-scale investment projects that develop new products, services, or facilities with a wider economic benefit to the local community. It is particularly suited to farm businesses looking to diversify their income and other small enterprises seeking to grow sustainably.
Successful applicants must provide at least 30 per cent match funding and complete all spending by 31 March 2026.
Councillor Richard Holland, Cabinet Member for High Street and Economic Development at Lichfield District Council, said: “We’ve already seen how Rural England Prosperity Funding can spark innovation, whether that’s enabling a local catering business to expand into rural markets or supporting the creation of a new nature trail that attracts more visitors to our countryside.
“Lichfield District Council is fully committed to backing our rural economy. These communities are vital to the character and strength of the district, and this fund is a key part of ensuring they can thrive, innovate, and continue to play a central role in our local economic success.”
The REPF is administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and applicants must be located within a rural area as defined by DEFRA.
Eligible applicants include small businesses with less than 50 employees and turnover of less than £10.2 million, registered charities and sole traders and partnerships.
The expression of interest window opened yesterday (2 June) and runs until Friday, 27 June.
Interested parties can find more information and apply via this link.
Anyone with questions or who needs support, should email the council’s policy team via policyandstrategy@lichfielddc.gov.uk
