Formal applications are now open for the GMCA’s new Foundational Economy Innovation Fund. The fund will provide grants and support for businesses and organisations in Greater Manchester’s 
“foundational” or “everyday” economy to trial innovative new ideas and improved ways of working.
The grant funding will be in 2 phases: Phase 1 will provide £10,000 grants for up to 40 projects to develop and test innovations and ideas. This will be followed by Phase 2 where £60,000 grants will be available for up to 10 projects to develop the best ideas from Phase 1. Participants will receive support on innovation and be invited to join a new community of innovators.
Applications are at this stage open for stage 1 funding. The “foundational economy” is the “everyday economy”, or the “essential economy” – the businesses we all rely on for our daily needs.
The fund is starting with four sectors and asking people who run businesses or enterprises in these sectors, work with the sectors, or have solutions that can be used in these sectors to apply. These sectors are:
- Health and Social Care
- Early Education and Childcare
- Retail and Personal Services
- Hospitality and Leisure
If you have any questions or queries, email: [email protected]
Apply to the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund
Deadline: 12 March 2023