Powys selects 37 businesses for £509,000 in growth grants

Powys County Council has selected 37 businesses for growth grants totalling £509,000, with support spread across 15 towns and communities. The council says the awards remain subject to funding agreements being completed. More than 150 applications were received, and applicants were told the assessment outcome within one week of the scheme closing.

Where the proposed money goes

Advanced manufacturing and engineering has the largest allocation, £179,000, followed by the foundational economy on £143,000. Together those two categories account for £322,000, or about 63% of the total, calculated from the council’s figures. Construction and retrofit is allocated £67,000, agriculture and rural resilience £60,000, tourism, culture and events £49,000, and energy £11,000. The six allocations add up to the announced £509,000. They cover six of the seven growth sectors in the Grow in Powys Economic Strategy.

Fifteen communities represented

The successful applications are in Brecon, Crickhowell, Hay-on-Wye, Knighton, Llangammarch Wells, Llanidloes, Llansantffraid, Llanymynech, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown, Presteigne, Rhayader, Welshpool and Ystradgynlais, according to the council. The announcement gives sector totals and locations rather than amounts for individual firms. Details of the businesses and projects are to follow once agreements have been completed.

Selected, rather than paid

The money comes through the Local Growth Fund, which is funded by the UK Government and managed in Wales by the Welsh Government. Councillor Glyn Preston says prompt decisions were important after strong demand for the round. This is an announcement of selection following a closed application round. It does not open a new call for applications or confirm that every selected business has received payment. The release gives no verified total for jobs to be created or safeguarded.