Lincolnshire is hoping to bid for up to £9m of revenue funding from a new national government fund.
Organisations from the voluntary and community sectors, Higher and Further Education, local councils and business support organisations are being asked to respond to the funding opportunity with ideas to boost local economic recovery and growth.
Ideally applications should be for over £500,000 and they must be able to spend and deliver in full between late summer and 31 March 2022.
On 26 April 2021, Lincolnshire County Council will launch a Community Renewal Fund Invitation to Bid document, seeking innovative bids for funding for local businesses, communities and places, investment in skills and to support residents into employment.
These bids should be locally tailored, align with existing and local provision, contribute to local growth strategies and target people and areas most in need.
Projects can be from across the county – but we're particularly encouraging those delivering benefits to three of the governments pre-selected priority places of Lincoln, East Lindsey and Boston.
Lincolnshire County Council is administering the fund and will review and select the bids to be submitted to government as a package in mid-June.
In selecting bids the emphasis will be on projects that:
- strategically fit
- are value for money
- target those most in need
- can deliver in the timeframe
- show how they will locally address one or more of the fund's investment priorities
- demonstrate innovation.
The bidding prospectus and all of the information organisations will need to apply is available here with applications closing noon on 14 May. Any questions can be submitted by email to CommunityRenewalFund@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Lessons from the successful projects in terms of what is delivered and how, will be pivotal in informing future funding for the area as the government look to shape the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022 as a long term replacement for European funding.