An influx of more than half a million pounds of funding has been approved for the Babergh district, to help support local businesses and community organisations.
Babergh was announced as the recipient grant of £621,369 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund on Good Friday.
The money is drawn from a pot of £110 million that will be distributed to local councils in England between 2023 and 2025.
It is intended to allow increased investment in rural and agricultural businesses looking to expand, as well as funds to enhance rural tourism and improve community infrastructure projects.
James Cartlidge, the Member of Parliament for South Suffolk, hailed the extra funding, which he stated would benefit rural areas.
He said: "I very much welcome the news that Babergh will benefit from more than £600,000 as part of £110 million in extra funding for councils across the country to support rural businesses looking to start-up or expand.
"Inevitably, it’s been a really challenging period for businesses, firstly a pandemic, closely followed by the war in Ukraine, coupled with surging energy prices.
"I hope that this funding will go a long way in supporting sustainable growth in our rural businesses.
"I am looking forward to working with local stakeholders to ensure that this vital investment delivers for our local economy."
Published in the Suffolk Free Press.
