Business grants available in Cannock Chase as part of Government funding windfall

The Grants 4 Growth programme aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand, innovate or become more resilient by match funding 60 per cent of project costs.

Cannock Chase Council leader Tony Johnson announced the launch of the grants programme at the latest full council meeting. 

He said: “Grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are available to businesses that have been trading for at least 12 months and application forms are up on the website.”

The new scheme has been funded by Cannock Chase Council’s latest allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) from the Government. 

It has been given £988,580 for 2025/26 and all funds must be spent by the end of March 2026.

Cabinet members were given details of the latest funding at their meeting on Thursday, July 31. 

They also highlighted projects that were funded through the previous £3m UKSPF allocation between 2022 and 2025.

Councillor Lisa Wilson, cabinet member for parks, culture and heritage, said funding had enabled Wimblebury to have Christmas lights for the first time, while deputy leader David Williams welcomed work taking place in Rugeley to develop a masterplan for the town centre.

He said: “It’s about time it got some focus and attention. 

"And it’s great to see we are spending some money on Rugeley Leisure Centre as I have been working with council officers to improve that offer.

“It goes back to working together with parishes and councillors and it’s something we need to do more of. Rugeley Town Council is a great example of that.

“No money was returned, which shows we are not just spending money, but spending it in the right way, ensuring everything is used for our communities.”

A cabinet report said: “A significant proportion of the funding focussed supporting Cannock Chase residents via programmes such as Beat the Cold which tackles fuel poverty and reducing cold related ill health, the Youth Aspirations initiative which supports young people in the district’s high schools to raise their aspirations and to make informed decisions about their education and future careers and the Discovery Programme which improved skills levels and increase employment opportunities. 

"Across the whole of the district the Thriving Communities programme referenced was available to seven parishes and community groups to support our high streets.

“Over the course of the 2022-25 programme a vast range of projects chosen by the local communities were supported, ranging from street furniture to play equipment and events. 

"As a number of communities were keen to mark VE day in May of this year, Thriving Communities was extended into 2025-26 to support these activities.

“UKSPF has enabled the council to continue to support further education in the district with two significant investments in the Cannock Chase College Campus in the town centre. 

"In late 2023 UKSPF grant funding enabled the installation of a bespoke carpentry workshop for both site and bench carpentry and purpose building trades workshops bricklaying, flooring, and painting.

“In March 2025, a further grant enabled the college to bring a mothballed building back into use as an Innovation and Skills Hub which will offer a range of programmes that enable local people to develop sector-specific skills with the support of the college and local employers.

“Having delivered this range and scale of investment across the district and identifying where further support is needed, the announcement of an additional year of funding means that those interventions that were particularly successful or were unable to meet demand can continue to be supported.”