A VILLAGE community grant scheme is being put in place to protect services and stores. The initiative offers grants to rural businesses to increase the use ofvillage shops and/or to create new community-led village stores, particularly in communities that are losing their post offices. Hampshire County Council, Community Action Hampshire, Hampshire Association of Local Councils and the South East England Development Agency have issued funding application forms to villages, parish and district councils, village shopkeepers and community representatives. The project will run until the end of June 2011. A variety of projects could be deemed eligible for a grant of up to £20,000 to help them. Successful schemes could include, for example, the creative location of village services, perhaps in the pub or parish hall: a new delivery service or a community minibus to bring in customers from neighbouring areas. The Village Community Grant Scheme is targeted at villages with fewer than 5,000 residents, with applications welcome from community associations, village shop associations, parish or district councils and formal voluntary associations. Private businesses can also apply if they have the written support of their parish council. The scheme, developed in line with research by Community Action Hampshire, has two key objectives – to improve localservice provision for villagers (reducing the need for people to travel to reach them), and improving access to essential services not available locally for the most disadvantaged. Michael Woodhall, executive member for economic development at HCC, said: "This is not just about replacing the footfall of lost post offices. "The aim of the Village Community Grant Scheme is to revitalise Hampshire's villages in a way that is more sustainable and viable in the long term, helping them to maintain their community spirit and boosting their local economy. "Already a number of businesses are in discussion with our Economic Development Office." HCC will consider the possibility of support for urban post offices facing closure and is exploring mechanisms such as further funds from the Govern-ment's Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme to offer help to these too.
