In 2008/09, Rural Renaissance funds have been awarded to the Somerset County Council Market Towns Regeneration Fund. The Fund is designed to help Market towns improve the economic vitality of their community as part of a strategic approach to Somerset County Councils relationship with Market Towns across Somerset. See the application form, guidance notes and key facts document.

Revitalising market towns is seen as a vital part of regeneration of the rural economy and Rural Renaissance funds have been provided to several projects.

Somerset Market Towns Forum has been funded for two initiatives. One, the Market Towns Tourism Study was for a study of how tourism initiatives can help bolster local economies, whilst the other, Building the Network has seen the development of information resources for the network of market towns across the County to share common experiences and look for solutions to helping to revive their economies.

The Wellington Food Town initiative implements a local Community Plan with emphasis on a ‘local food and produce’-based regeneration strategy. The strategy aims to revitalise the town centre and revive its economy, resulting in a more robust set of local businesses.

Other investments into the market towns have focused on physical regeneration, such as at Watchet where the Esplanade enhancements to the public realm are funded by Rural Renaissance. The consequence of these works, due for completion by early 2008 will see better facilities for tourists as well as local residents.

The West Mendip Opportunities Project run by Glastonbury Community Development Trust, delivers training and skills advice to people from Glastonbury and rural West Mendip in relation to future job opportunities at Morlands Enterprise Park.