Test Valley Borough Council awarded £77,000 for rural grants

The money, from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, will be used for capital projects.

Grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 will be available to new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities.

Businesses will need to fund at least 50 per cent of their total project costs from their own sources.

Alison Johnston praises grant scheme aiding small rural businesses Councillor Alison Johnston, portfolio holder for climate emergency and countryside, said: "We have a large rural community in the borough and the REPF is supporting our rural businesses to purchase equipment, employ new technologies, diversify, improve productivity, grow, and employ more local people.

"We are delighted to be able to offer further grants in 2025-26."

Funding will be available for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation, small-scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas, and the development and promotion of the visitor economy.

For more information, visit the council's website.