Tewkesbury Borough Council is offering development grants of up to £100,000 to businesses in the county that can demonstrate a benefit to rural communities.

The capital investments grants are part of the LEADER programme for small and medium-sized businesses, including farmers and growers, community groups and other rural enterprises.

To be successful, applications must contribute to the creation of jobs or the development of businesses in the Tewkesbury Borough LEADER rural area.

Funding for up to 40 per cent of total costs is handed out on a first come, first served basis and the next deadline for applications is October 9.

Councillor Rob Bird, Tewkesbury Borough portfolio holder for economic development, said: "This is a 'once only' opportunity for local rural businesses to get financial support with expansion projects, but the time-frame is very short, and the total funding available is limited, so I urge anyone with business development plans to act now and contact us."

The Forest and Tewkesbury Borough programme has already allocated £370,000 of grant funding to 17 businesses across the Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury Borough.

The most recent example was for Café au Chocolat in Tewkesbury, which was awarded £9,467 (40%) towards the capital costs associated with a new artisan chocolate production and retail service.

The new service is due to start in November and will result in three new jobs.

The LEADER programme is open for applications for projects which meet its key investment priorities. These are farm productivity, business support/farm diversification, tourism, culture and heritage and forestry productivity.

LEADER is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

If you are thinking of applying to the LEADER programme, please contact Neil Batt, Programme Manager, as soon as possible on neil.batt@fdean.gov.uk  or 01594 812608 to avoid missing out. Further details and application forms are also available on the website www.forestandtewksleader.co.uk 

Picture caption: Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Rob Bird