Rural Enterprise Fund Makes First Award

A fund to encourage rural businesses in Carmarthenshire to develop new and existing business premises, where new jobs are created has made its first award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £4.4m Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund has awarded £60,000 to Sauro Architectural Design based in Carmarthen, the funding will create three jobs, bring a derelict building back into use, and allow a new two storey extension to be constructed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I’m delighted that the CREF Scheme has been able to support Sauro Architectural Design to upgrade the business premises and bring three new jobs with it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would encourage other rural enterprises to make grant applications as soon as possible to reap similar benefits.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “The purpose of the Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund is to create employment opportunities in the rural area of the county and it does this by offering grants so that they can make necessary enhancements to their business premises.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sauro Architectural Design director Peter Sauro said: “We are grateful to have been awarded the grant funding for the project. It is going to allow us to create new jobs and to expand our business” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further applications for the scheme are being invited, stage 1 applications will need to be submitted by 16 January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​