Over £200,000 of funding made available to boost Chelmsford's businesses and charities

Chelmsford City Council has opened applications for two grant schemes aimed at helping Chelmsford’s small businesses, charities and voluntary organisations to adapt, grow and thrive.

The funding, approved as part of the annual budget in February, is available to help businesses and organisations, many of whom are facing increasing operational costs, to invest in their services and build long term sustainability.

The new Urban Business Grant scheme provides capital funding to small businesses to improve their premises, support local employment and achieve sustainable growth. 

Alongside this, Chelmsford based charities and voluntary groups can apply for the Discretionary Grant scheme, which opens once a year and supports projects that deliver essential services to vulnerable people in the district.

Together, the two schemes offer targeted support for both commercial and community focused organisations. Encouraging eligible organisations to apply, Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for an Active Chelmsford, said:

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“These funding schemes give Chelmsford businesses and charities an opportunity to invest in their future. The grants will help organisations think creatively, bring forward ideas and make changes that will have a real impact – supporting people, strengthening neighbourhoods and helping Chelmsford remain a great place to live, work and visit.”

Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for an Active Chelmsford

New Urban Business Grant scheme to support small businesses

Urban businesses play a vital role in Chelmsford’s economy, helping to create vibrant and welcoming city and town centres. The Urban Business Grant scheme aims to support small businesses to invest in improvements that boost productivity, reduce operating costs and build long-term resilience.

The Urban Business Grant scheme builds on the success of the council's rural business grant funding delivered via the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). Over the last three years this programme has helped strengthen Chelmsford’s rural economy and businesses in the city’s urban centres can now access similar support.

Small businesses located within Chelmsford’s defined urban areas, including South Woodham Ferrers, will be able to apply for grants of up to £10,000 with a total funding pot of £100,000 available. Funding must be used for capital investment, such as building improvements or the purchase of equipment that delivers lasting benefits.  

Applications will be assessed on how well projects:

• Support business growth and productivity
• Create or safeguard local jobs
• Promote urban areas, including increasing footfall and improving the experience of local centres
• Deliver value for money and can be completed successfully
• Align with the council’s wider economic development and environmental priorities.

Applicants will be expected to provide match funding of at least 20% of the grant requested, demonstrating commitment to investing in their own growth and strengthening the overall impact of the scheme.

For the purposes of this scheme, a small business is defined as employing fewer than 50 employees and having an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than £10 million. Applicants will need to outline their proposed project, costs, timescales and expected outcomes.

Applications open on 11 May and will remain open until 30 June. Full eligibility details and the online application form will be available on the Invest Chelmsford website.

The Urban Business Grant scheme will support small businesses with grants of up to £10,000

Discretionary Grant scheme open for applications

Chelmsford City Council’s Discretionary Grant scheme will be open for applications from 8 May to 19 June. The scheme is open to voluntary and charity organisations that work for the benefit of Chelmsford residents, offering grants of up to £10,000 from a £120,000 funding pot.

Opening once a year, the scheme focuses on supporting vulnerable people living in the Chelmsford district. In previous years, grants have been awarded to organisations helping people affected by homelessness and furniture poverty, youth clubs, and charities supporting carers and people living with dementia.

To be eligible, organisations must be working for and directly benefiting residents in the Chelmsford district. Applicants are required to provide 50% match funding from other sources. This cannot solely be the organisation’s own funds, as the scheme aims to bring additional investment into the district. Funding can only be used for revenue costs – the day-to-day expenses needed to deliver a project.

Details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the Community Funding webpage of the council’s website.

For further information or support with an application, contact Chelmsford CVS by email at cfsfunding@chelmsfordcvs.org.uk or call 01245 351888.

The Discretionary Grant scheme has previously funded youth clubs and charities supporting carers and people living with dementia

Further grant and funding information

To explore other funding opportunities available to businesses and organisations in Chelmsford, visit the Chelmsford City Council website.