Kick Start Grant 

The grant scheme is a joint initiative between Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise to provide financial assistance for business start up projects within the Borough of Blaenau Gwent.
  
The scheme is open to individuals/groups of individuals wishing to pursue business start up opportunities.  All viable business start up projects will be considered (with the exception of mobile businesses) from applicants who fill the given criteria.

The grant could potentially fund 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of £2000.

 

The Local Investment Fund (LIF)

The South East Wales Local Investment Fund is now available.  Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council along with 5 other Local Authorities in South East Wales have been awarded Convergence funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to provide grant funding to businesses located in the area. 

This grant scheme has been designed to compliment the Welsh Assembly Government’s Single Investment Fund (SIF).

Both new business start ups and existing businesses can apply for funding if investing in any of the following areas:

 

• Capital equipment
• ICT
• Marketing
• E Commerce 
• External & Internal Business works

The business must be a small to medium enterprise (SME) in the manufacturing or service to manufacturing sectors.  Tourism businesses are also considered.

Retail, Transport and Construction businesses are not eligible.

The Local Investment Fund can provide financial assistance up to 40% of eligible expenditure to a maximum of £10,000 (minimum grant £1000) subject to certain criteria.  

 

Town Centre Grant Programmes

There are a range of commercial improvment grants available to businesses within the town centre's of Blaenau Gwent.

For more information on the grant's available follow the link to the town centre management page below.

http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/community/134.asp

 

The South East Wales Community Economic Development (CED) Programme

The purpose of the scheme is to regionally promote the growth and development of Social Enterprises and to support Community Economic Development across the South East region.

This project will offer a locally focused flexible grant programme to organisations that constitute social enterprises, in order to increase the economic contribution and sustainability of the third sector.

The programme will provide financial assistance to eligible organisations based in the County Borough areas of: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen.

If your Social Enterprise is based within Blaenau Gwent and you would like more information relating to this grant scheme, please contact the Economic Development Unit on 01495 355700 or email business.services@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.

  

Heads of the Valleys Business Seed Capital Fund

Financial support for residents setting up a business for the first time and existing businesses within the heads of the valley area.

This is a flexible grant scheme delivered through a partnership across the Local Authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen. It is designed to help residents of the Heads of the Valleys set up a full-time business for the first time, also existing business looking to develop and grow where projects do not meet the criteria of other grant support currently available.

 Please see the document below for more information.