Ashford Rural Investment Grant – UK

This grant aims to support the creation and uptake of start-up space for food and drink producers, hospitality or tourism businesses or businesses in sectors supporting these industries. Additionally, the grant also aims to support projects that will help tackle the last-mile challenge and increase the number of visitors to rural hospitality or tourism destinations. Examples of capital projects that the grant could support include:

• Construction of new incubator space for food or drink production
• Repurposing vacant or underused commercial premises to establish an outlet for local produce
• Establishing a transport link between key hubs and rural visitor destinations, such as one of the area’s vineyards

This grant cannot be used in conjunction with the Ashford Rural Boost Grant. It can be used in conjunction with other financial support schemes available, subject to those other schemes allowing this, except any funding deriving from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Funding Information

• The minimum level of grant allowed under this scheme is £3,000 and the maximum level of grant allowed is £10,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant is a commercial entity registered in the Ashford Borough. This includes but is not limited to, micro, small and medium businesses, social enterprises or Community Interest Companies (CIC).
• The subject commercial site must be located within the designated Rural area. Where the site or the wider land crosses across the designated area the Council reserves the right to assess these on a case-by-case basis.
• The business can demonstrate the need and the expected benefits of the works proposed.
• Only capital projects for business purposes are eligible.
• Applications from non-commercial entities may be considered subject to the proposal clearly benefitting commercial businesses directly.

For more information, visit Ashford Borough Council.