Do you know of a community project that requires funding? The Rural Economy Scheme has attracted additional funding from Investing in Communities which will be delivered in partnership with Suffolk ACRE. This amounts to £90,000 to support "Enterprising Communities" and the funds must be spent by March 2009.

We are looking for 10 communities who have a new project to create a sustainable community business or service. This could for example be: -

· A community shop
· A community building seeking to diversify income (e.g. a village hall installing a bar)
· Establishing a regular farmer's market, craft or antique fair (or other)

Key points are that projects must be new, rurally based, provide economic benefits to the community and be sustainable. Applications must be from a rural community or parish council, not an individual business, or sited in a market town.

Grants are up to £9,000 per project which includes project management, support etc. If you are aware of any project or community which could benefit from this funding - however tentative at this stage, please advise Barry Henson (barry.henson@suffolkacre.org.uk) who will assess whether the project could potentially be funded to work up a feasibility study and business plan.

Please feel free to circulate this information to other organisations that could help find suitable projects.