Small businesses in Derbyshire can now bid for grants of up to £75,000 as part of a £3m drive to help firms develop and grow.
Derbyshire Economic Partnership – backed by Derbyshire County Council – has secured £3m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The Global Derbyshire Small Business Support Programme is offering grants of up to £75,000 to cover up to half the cost of plans to grow, collaborate, innovate or export.
The programme will create a minimum of 200 new jobs, safeguard at least 48 more, and attract £4m of private sector investment into the county.
Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport, said: “Small businesses are at the heart of the Derbyshire economy and we’re committed to doing all we can to support them to flourish and compete in a global market.
“These are challenging economic times and small business might be thinking twice about committing necessary investment to grow their operations. The match funding available through the Global Derbyshire Small Business Support Programme might just give them the helping hand required to take the next step towards job creation.”
Grants are available within four key strands:
- Support for start-up businesses
- Business innovation and development (including supply chain collaboration)
- Companies helping deliver the aims of Digital Derbyshire – the county’s biggest ever broadband transformation
- Export promotion
Richard Horsley, Chairman of the Derbyshire Economic Partnership and also a D2N2 Board Member, said: “We are delighted to be able to launch this exciting programme which confirms our commitment to and confidence in businesses across Derbyshire.
“The programme will look to support enterprise as flexibly as possible to ensure we stimulate the business growth and job creation required for the Derbyshire economy to recover strongly and contribute to the future prosperity of our wonderful county.”
Funding will be available until March 31, 2015.
Businesses wanting more information should visit www.derbyshireeconomicpartnership.org.uk or call 01629 538244.
Source: Derbyshire County Council
