Green Shoots funding for Black Country Businesses

                                         
               
Express and Star Green Shoots Fund

Round 2 of the Express and Star Green Shoots Fund is now closed. Round 3 opens on the 9th of December.

The Express and Star Green Shoots Fund aims to help small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Black Country to create new jobs and promote growth in the region. 

Businesses will be able to supplement their own investment by applying for an award ranging from £10,000 to £50,000 to support capital investment projects, with the money coming from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

To qualify for the The Express and Star Green Shoots Fund the business has to be located in the Black Country (identified through Business Rates being paid to either Dudley MBC, Sandwell MBC, Walsall MBC or Wolverhampton MBC)

Businesses from the following sectors are eligible to apply:

 - Advanced Manufacturing

 - Building Technologies

 - Transport Technologies including Aerospace

 - Environmental Technologies

 - Business Services

The Express and Star Green Shoots Fund is expected to run until October 2014. Support will be provided in the form of coaching and mentoring for successful businesses to ensure the best possible return on investment.

Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton said: “Alongside our partners we are delighted to be bringing this level of prosperity into the region which will enable businesses to thrive”.

The programme is supported by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); the Black Country Chamber of Commerce; and the four Black Country local authorities: Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley.

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