Cumberland Council is encouraging local businesses, community groups and organisations to apply for grants to boost the local economy.

The initiative offers a total package of £1.4 million, derived from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Specifically, the council targets projects that align with the council’s UKSPF and REPF investment priorities.

These include projects that aim to enhance city and town centres, support the arts, sports and leisure for community health and wellbeing, and boost the visitor economy, among several others.

Alongside the council, external partners will manage several grant schemes on its behalf.

Funding for improvements to commercial outlets in urban areas of Cumberland, for instance, will be overseen by Cumberland Council.

For more details on this, information can be found on the council's website.

Information about other grant schemes, managed by external partners, can be obtained directly through the respective partners.

The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, for instance, is managing rural business support and tourism grants, while cultural, heritage and leisure grants will be managed by the Copeland Community Fund.

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The leader of Cumberland Council, councillor Mark Fryer, highlighted this year's grant scheme, saying: "This is the first year that Cumberland Council has run the scheme and it is now operated on a Cumberland wide basis.

"There are a variety of grants available, some with differing criteria, so we urge anyone interested in applying to read the guidance carefully before they make an application."

This year’s allocation has already funded various projects such as the development of the ‘Cumberland Story’ project, archaeological work at the Roman Bathhouse at Carlisle cricket club and investment into Cumberland’s open-air markets.

In April 2022, the UK Government published the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus to level up all parts of the UK.

The UKSPF has allocated £10.5 million to Cumberland Council to be spent over three financial years (2022-25), with an additional £2.5 million of REPF to be dispersed over two years (2023-25).

The grant application process is now open.