Applying for a grant

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) aligns with the wider UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The fund aims to provide support and investment into rural areas to strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. 

Colchester City Council (CCC) are operating a grant scheme to fund capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure. Projects must meet the key investment priorities and the defined strategic objectives. 

Colchester City Council’s confirmed allocation is £532,195.

Only capital funding is available, and projects will need to ensure that any revenue funding needed for the project has been secured from other sources. 

Applications are now open.

The amount of funding each applicant is eligible for depends on three factors:

• The project size (by cost).
• Whether the project is commercially run.
• Whether the project is intended to make a profit or not.

Grant size		Min £ Intervention	Max £ Intervention	Max grant rate	Application Process
Small	Business support	£5,000	£24,999	50% (Commercial, profit-making project)	One stage: Small
	Community Support	£5,000	£24,999	80% (Makes some income to offset costs but is not intended to make a profit) 100% (Generates no income)
Large	Business support	£25,000	£150,000	50% (Commercial, profit-making project)	Two Stage: EoI and Full
	Community Support	£25,000	£80,000	80% (Makes some income to offset costs but is not intended to make a profit) 100% (Generates no income)

Who can apply

For more information on eligibility and the application process, applicants should read: 

• The REPF CCC delivery plan and guidance notes for applicants (PDF, 652KB)
• The REPF CCC supporting information - case studies of previously funded projects (PDF, 587KB)

The application proccess for small grant applications

• £5,000 to £24,999 for business support
• £5,000 to £24,999 for community support

We are operating a single stage application process.

There are two sets of applications, one for business support and one for community – make sure you complete the correct application form and associated spreadsheet.

Application form, spreadsheet and guidance for business support: 

• REPF CCC guidance to full application business (small grant) (PDF, 424KB)
• REPF CCC full application business (small grant)
• REPF CCC full application spreadsheet business (small grant)

Application form, spreadsheet and guidance for community support:

• REPF CCC guidance to full application community (small grant) (PDF, 500KB)
• REPF CCC full application community (small grant)
• REPF CCC full application spreadsheet community (small grant)

Before you fill in the application form, you should read the relevant guidance notes for making a full application for small grant scheme in full.

Submitting your application

You must email your completed application form as a Microsoft Word attachment only to REPF.Applications@colchester.gov.uk.

You must also attach the completed full application spreadsheet as a Microsoft Excel document to the email. We are unable to accept electronic applications submitted in formats other than Word. We will not accept handwritten, scanned or PDF application forms.

Small grant applications open 12pm on Tuesday 30 May 2023 and close 5pm on Monday 14 August 2023.

The application proccess for large grant applications

• £25,000 to £150,000 for business support
• £25,000 to £80,000 for community support

We are operating a two-stage application process.

In the first stage, applicants will complete an expression of interest (stage one) form.

Application form for large grant applications: 

• REPF CCC guidance for completing an expression of interest (large grant) (PDF, 468KB)
• REPF CCC expression of interest application form (large grant)

Submitting your application

You must email your completed application form as a Microsoft Word attachment only to REPF.Applications@colchester.gov.uk.

We are unable to accept electronic applications submitted in formats other than Word. We will not accept handwritten, scanned or PDF application forms.

If your expression of interest (stage one) application is successful, you will be given the relevant paperwork to complete stage two of the application process.

Stage one applications for large grants open 12pm on Tuesday 30 May 2023 and close 5pm on Monday 17 July 2023.