County grant will boost rural growth and employment

Rural areas of East Sussex are set for a business boost as a new £2.5 million grant goes live.

Aimed at the rural districts of Lewes, Wealden and Rother, the ‘Rural Growth and Employment Fund' (RuGEF) grant is the first part of the Council's £6 million Economic Intervention Fund.
The focus for RuGEF will be economic growth and job creation. RuGEF aims to support:

• new jobs (or safeguard jobs)
• new businesses
• business growth
• additional and appropriate commercial floor space
• increased or improved business training

Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Economy at the County Council, said: “RuGEF may be able to help a new business to start up or a more established one to grow. Or it may be the key to help unlock more training opportunities for employees. If you want to know more about RuGEF or about our other funds and when they come on stream, just visit our Finance and grants for businesses or email economicintervention.fund@eastsussex.gov.uk for more information.

“RuGEF is the first part of our Intervention Fund which will provide direct help to our local economy. As well as the rural economy, other grants are also aimed at helping small and medium sized businesses, voluntary enterprises and new companies relocating to East Sussex. We've also used the Fund to help the proposed Arndale Centre redevelopment in Eastbourne.”