East Riding of Yorkshire Council has relaunched its Love Your High Street fund, to help more businesses across the area in these challenging times.
It has been expanded to cover the whole of the East Riding area but is still predominantly aimed at the ‘high street’ – including villages and rural businesses which offer a service to their local community.
The Fund will offer 100% grants of up to £10,000. It might be used to support a new business venture, innovative projects that help create the high street as a destination, the diversification of a high street/rural business – for example, an activity to help the business retain a high street presence, such as creating an online offer, or a new delivery service.
The Fund will also support projects that will help prepare a business to recover after the current crisis.
Applications are welcome from businesses, property owners, Town and Parish Councils, event organisers; or business groups who are collaborating to make a difference on their high street.
This might be something physical, or just a great idea which creates a stronger high street presence and community, a project that supports the ethos of developing a great place in the East Riding.
Councillor Richard Burton, leader of the council, said:
“ I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to relaunch and greatly expand the range of the Love Your High Street Fund. This could prove a real lifeline for many of our local businesses.
“Now that the Fund offers grants to fund 100% of a scheme, rather than the previous 50% funding, this will save businesses from having to find vital cash reserves to match-fund new projects. Increasing the grant limit creates more opportunities for larger projects to come forward, too.
“Now that we have also widened the scheme beyond the 13 principal towns originally included, this will offer those businesses which perform a vital community role for many vulnerable or isolated residents a chance to apply for funding. It will also help boost economic activity amongst the self-employed and SME business community, as many projects will use local traders and suppliers.”
For more information about the Love Your High Street fund, or to apply for a grant, go to www.loveyourhighstreet.co.uk
