COUNTY businesses looking to revamp their properties can apply for a grant of up to £100,000.

Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a £2.5 million business investment grant, which is open to businesses who primarily trade with other businesses and are looking to fund extensions, renovations or reconfigurations of commercial premises.

The scheme will award grants of up to 45 per cent of the total project costs, up to a maximum £100,000, and are intended to cover costs directly associated with the conversion or alteration of a building.

Part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the scheme is expected to attract up to £3m in private sector investment in the region and lead to the creation of 130 jobs.

Herefordshire Council is the accountable body for the scheme.

Programme Manager Caroline Cattle, said: “We enjoyed considerable success with our previous redundant building scheme and whilst this new one is focused at a different target market, its aims are largely complimentary to that.

"We’ll again be funding the transformation of buildings to provide them with a new economically fruitful future, whilst also ensuring that new jobs are created.

“Within four months of completion all projects which have received funds should have created at least one-full time job and we’ll be paying particular consideration to the projected job creation figures when assessing applications.”

The conversion or refurbishment of residential property is exempt from the scheme and buildings which will be used for agricultural, horticultural, retail or hospitality purposes cannot apply either.

LEP Director Gill Hamer added: “The difference that schemes such as this can make shouldn’t be underestimated.

"Our previous Redundant Buildings Grant Scheme saw a rich and diverse range of buildings across the Marches transformed and brought back in to useful economic use.

“We’re very much looking forward to seeing how businesses plan to make a similar impact with support from this latest fund.”

Full details of eligibility can be found by contacting either Caroline Cattle (Programme Manager) or Alison Rogers (Finance Officer) on mbig@herefordshire.gov.uk or by calling the Marches Growth Hub team on 03456 000727.