The Vibrant Villages grants programme aims to provide financial support to local rural post offices and retailers which will help to ensure their future sustainability.

Who can apply?

Businesses who could apply for a grant include:
• Post offices
• Village shops (including food and hardware stores)
• Petrol outlets with a retail element
• Newsagents
• Butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers
• Bakeries
• Farm Shops
• Mobile facilities (providing any of the above services)
• Village pubs wishing to develop services for the community

Eligible businesses must contribute a minimum of 50% of total eligible project costs. This match funding cannot be sourced from any other grant making authority.

What can the grants be used for?

Projects that could be supported might include:
• Introducing, or increasing the range of, locally produced high quality foods.
• Improvements to sales area , for example new shelving,lighting and heating.
• Development of local delivery services.
• Introduction of new services , e.g. dry cleaning, solid fuel sales and local fresh produce etc.
• Security, e.g. CCTV, alarms and mirrors.
• Internal modernisation – e.g. flooring and energy saving devices.
• External appearance – e.g. signage, shop front improvements and window blinds etc.
• Upgrade of equipment to improve efficiency of business – e.g. energy efficiency, stock control etc.
• Improving access to premises.

Which areas are covered by the grants scheme?

The scheme is only available to businesses located in Leicestershire villages which have a population of less than 7,000 residents. Priority will be given to smaller settlements with limited services where the business is the sole operator within the locality. Settlements with a population greater than this will not be considered. These settlements are:

Ashby de la Zouch	Burbage	Hinckley	Mountsorrel	Syston
Barwell	Coalville	Loughborough	Oadby and Wigston	Thurmaston
Birstall	Earl Shilton	Lutterworth	Narborough
Braunstone	Glenfield	Market Harborough	Shepshed
Broughton Astley	Groby	Melton Mowbray	Sileby

Free expert retail advice is also available to help make your business more viable and competitive.

The full criteria for applicants, guidance notes and application form can be downloaded below or the Vibrant Villages application form can be completed online.