£500,000 on offer to Shropshire’s rural areas

Shropshire’s rural communities can now bid for a share of a £500,000 fund that aims to boost the county’s rural areas.

The ‘rural challenge capital fund’, is part of Shropshire Council’s market towns revitalisation programme (MTRP), which has already made £2.5m available to the county’s six larger market towns, and £500,000 available to the eleven smallest market towns.

Those rural areas that aren’t eligible for the existing £3m of funding can now bid for between £7,500 and £40,000. The money will need to be match-funded, and the deadline for applications is 30 June 2011. (see further information below for more details).

The eleven smaller towns already eligible for the £500,000 MTRP funding can also submit an application, but only if they can demonstrate written support from a majority of their surrounding Shropshire councillors and parish councils, and clearly identify the benefits to the rural area.

Guidance notes about applying for funding, plus an application form, can be found on the Shropshire Council website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/markettowns.

Any groups interested in applying are encouraged to first contact their local Community Action Officer, whose details can be obtained by calling 01743 253077.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economy and waste, said:

“In these difficult economic times it is vital that we continue to support and invest in our market towns and rural communities. This funding will provide a real boost to the county’s rural areas.”

Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of August 2011.

Further information
To be eligible for funding under the Rural Challenge Capital Fund, initiatives would have to demonstrate how they contribute to the following objectives for the benefit of Shropshire people:

1. Increase the viability of Shropshire’s rural areas.
2. Build social capacity and improve access to local opportunities.
3. Sustain local communities and support inter-generational activities.
4. Promote a ‘total place’ approach to stronger communities
5. Target the needs of disadvantaged groups / vulnerable members of the community.
6. Enable the delivery of sustainable local services.
7. Support the development of social or rural enterprise and encourage local employment opportunities.
8. Support environmental initiatives, contributing to reduced carbon emissions.
9. Encourage and support local people to work together to shape their communities.

Successful projects will need to demonstrate:

1. how they contribute to the Rural Challenge Capital Fund objectives.
2. support from the local Shropshire Councillor(s).
3. evidence of local need and demand.
4. the impact of the project and the consequences of not proceeding.
5. maximum leverage / external match funding.
6. how any revenue implications will be met.
7. an achievable programme of implementation.
8. any necessary planning permissions are in place.
9. that local consultation has taken place through a variety of means, including the Local Joint Committee.