Home / Economic Services / The New Forest Rural Fund
The New Forest Rural SME Fund was launched in August 2020 in support of the New Forest’s rural economy. It is a competitive programme, managed by Natural Enterprise on behalf of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and New Forest District Council (NFDC) that seeks to support the Solent’s economy by providing grants of between £2,500 to £50,000 to rural small and medium sized businesses that require capital investment with potential for economic growth, leveraging in private sector investment, creating or protecting jobs and assisting the rural sector in the New Forest.
You will not be eligible to apply for this fund if your business has already received funding from the Solent LEP for a project that is still live (i.e. has LEP funds yet to be drawn down or contracted outputs yet to be delivered) Solent LEP funding comprises funding direct from Solent LEP including Solent LEP Crowdfunder Pay It Forward, the Isle of Wight or New Forest Rural Fund or the Isle of Wight or New Forest Rural Business Resilience Fund.
The Rural Fund supports both start-up and established businesses.
If you believe you have the potential to grow your business or safeguard jobs, but require some extra funding to do so, you may be able to benefit from the fund – for more information and an Expression of Interest Form please email emma.bloomfield@naturalenterprise.co.uk or call us on 01983 296244.