£1 Million Fund Launched to boost Carmarthenshire’s Heritage, Tourism and Culture

Carmarthenshire County Council has launched a new £1 million Heritage, Tourism and Culture Fund to support projects that will strengthen the local economy while celebrating and enhancing the county’s rich cultural and heritage offer. Funded through the Local Growth Fund 2026–27, the capital grant scheme will enable investment in initiatives that contribute to regional growth, improve visitor experiences and showcase Carmarthenshire’s unique identity. This project is supported by the Welsh Government through the UK Local Growth Fund in Wales.

The fund will provide grants ranging from £25,000 to £100,000 to support the creation, expansion or modernisation of tourism, culture and heritage assets across the county. This targeted investment is intended to deliver against key strategic objectives by supporting high-quality, sustainable developments that increase visitor numbers, extend the tourism season and ensure that Carmarthenshire remains a competitive and attractive destination for visitors and residents alike.

Projects supported through the fund will focus on enhancing the quality and accessibility of facilities, strengthening interpretation and engagement, and delivering improvements that make it easier for a wider range of people to enjoy Carmarthenshire’s cultural and heritage assets. This could include facility enhancements to improve the overall visitor experience, the restoration or activation of heritage sites, the development of tourism infrastructure and trails, and improvements that enable attractions to operate year-round. The fund will also support digital enhancements that improve accessibility to cultural and heritage experiences, alongside the development of inclusive and accessible visitor infrastructure at key locations.

The Heritage, Tourism and Culture Fund is open to a broad range of organisations, including constituted voluntary and community groups, public bodies, registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises and Town and Community Councils delivering projects that go beyond their statutory responsibilities for the benefit of the wider community. Local branches of national third sector organisations are also eligible to apply using their parent organisation’s constitution.

All projects must be capital in nature and will be required to demonstrate clear outputs and outcomes within the delivery period, with all activity completed by 31 March 2027. Applicants will need to ensure that their proposals are deliverable within this timeframe and that they can evidence the impact of their project in supporting economic growth, improving access and enhancing Carmarthenshire’s tourism and cultural offer.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans, said:

This £1 million investment represents a significant opportunity to support projects that celebrate everything that makes Carmarthenshire unique. By investing in our heritage, culture and tourism offer, we can create high-quality experiences that attract more visitors, support local businesses and extend the tourism season, while also ensuring our communities benefit from improved facilities and greater access to what the county has to offer. We are keen to encourage applications from organisations with ambitious and deliverable projects that will have a lasting positive impact on Carmarthenshire.”

Organisations with ambitious and impactful projects are encouraged to apply and play a key role in shaping the future of Carmarthenshire’s vibrant heritage, tourism and cultural landscape.

For more information, visit:Heritage, Tourism and Culture Fund - Carmarthenshire County Council