Bournemouth Council are encouraging new businesses to apply for a small grant which will be awarded in a 'Dragons' Den' style competition.
£15,000 of the Council's £1 million recession fund has been allocated to this, meaning up to 30 start-ups could benefit.
So if you're considering starting a new business and have the confidence to pitch for the money, why not apply? The closing date is 20 May 2011, so there's still plenty of time to think about it.
The money could be put to a huge range of uses. Maybe you're thinking of starting a cleaning company, meaning you need equipment and a marketing budget. Or perhaps you've got a brilliant idea for a new product or service and the extra cash would be a useful boost to your funding.
The £500 grant isn't going to finance all your start-up costs but it's a useful contribution. What could be more valuable is the PR gained from winning and being followed by the Dorset Echo for a year. That's effectively free advertising.
Unfortunately the cash is only available to businesses which have not begun trading. This penalises the entrepreneurs who are already getting with the job of creating wealth through their own efforts.
Finally, don't be put off by the dates on the application form, which still refer to the 2010 grant scheme. If you believe those, you've already missed the deadline. We'll be contacting Bournemouth Council to let them know.
