BASINGSTOKE and Test Valley councils are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) and Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) will receive more then £950,000 from the government to invest in rural areas.
BDBC will receive £439,658 and TVBC will get £514,097 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
This money aims to help support businesses and community organisations, invest in farming, support arts and culture, boost rural tourism and improve community infrastructure projects.
READ MORE: The Loddon Lilies: More than £1k raised to help support young carers
Kit Malthouse MP explained that the Rural Prosperity Fund is a new fund that replaces EU funding.
He said: "It allows us to work closely with leaders to direct the money where it is most needed. It will go towards helping people start and grow agricultural businesses; projects to boost rural tourism; and infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging stations.
“Driving the right investment into our rural economies is vital if we are to create jobs and close the rural productivity gap while protecting our beautiful countryside.”
The Rural England Prosperity Fund is a rural top up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and will deliver £110 million to eligible councils.
The funding for BDBC and TVBC totalling £953,754 is for the two financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here