Capital Grant Funding

Farm Health Capital Grant

This scheme is administered by Herefordshire Council, and covers the West Midlands.

This is a discretionary scheme, and not means tested. The scheme covers capital grants for £62,500 and below (minimum grant £2,500). 40% of capital costs may be met under this grant. The grant is available for commercial dairy, beef, sheep, pig, goat and poultry producers.

The first stage to this scheme is for the farmer's vet to complete a Farm Health Plan (80% of costs for Farm Health Plan covered by grant).

The Farm Health Grant will recommend if any expenditure is required in the following areas: livestock handling, equipment, improvements to buildings, specialised computer hardware and software.

The full application form requires a detailed specification for improvements, 3 quotes (if works over £10,000, two quotes for works below £10,000), and 2 years cash flow.

Assistance can be provided to farmers in completing the full application form.

Redundant Building Grant

This scheme is administered by Herefordshire Council, and covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire . Grants are available up to £62,500 or 25% of eligible costs.

Eligible projects would include conversion or refurbishment, including upgrading of mains services, to provide facilities for: manufacturing, crafts or service businesses, office premises and retail outlets. Holiday lets are specifically excluded from this scheme.

Rural Enterprise Grant

This grant will cover 40% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £62,500. Grants are available for Food and Drink Diversification and Environmental Technologies.

Strategic Investment Grant

The Strategic Investment Grant (SIG) is for grants £62,500 and above, funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), and available to land based businesses. SIG can fund large scale and collaborative projects to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, and improve the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy.

Applications for SIGs are currently being invited to support investments in the following areas:

• Fruit and vegetable packing and processing
• Supply chain facilities in the livestock sector (dairy, beef, sheep, pigs, poultry meat and eggs)
• Centralised storage and processing facilities for combinable crops
• Farm diversification
• Improve the economic value of forests and the processing and marketing of primary forestry products
• Agricultural showgrounds

An application under SIG would need to include a business plan, past accounts, details of ownership, market size covered, customers and suppliers, beneficiaries from funding, environmental benefits, project management plan, and how the works would be procured and commissioned.