Businesses can get up to £25k to aid city’s recovery
DERBY City Council is offering support of up to £25,000 to businesses affected by Covid-19.
Many have been affected by the virus as the nation has come through three lockdowns in the last 18 months.
The Additional Restrictions Grant Vibrancy Fund hopes to increase footfall in the city centre to preCovid levels.
The council said that projects may include window treatments of vacant premises to minimise their effect on vibrancy or to enhance businesses that are trading.
A statement from Derby City Council reads: “A positive experience when visiting the city centre is essential to improve reputation and help the city to recover and to build on pre-Covid footfall.
“Now that restrictions have been lifted in the UK, we are looking to award grants to enable businesses to develop individual or joint projects that will support their own business in either the delivery and/or presence of the project while contributing to an overall improvement in the vibrancy of Derby.”
Street canopy art and creative lighting projects have also been suggested as well as promoting art through murals, painted streets and decorated business hoardings.
Organisations within Derby who are able to deliver similar vibrancy projects are invited to apply for the scheme before midday on Monday, September 6.
Since lockdown restrictions were lifted on non-essential retail, footfall in the city centre has shown signs of improvement.
According to Partnerships for Better Business, Derby’s footfall is increasing at a faster rate than other cities across the UK.
Regarding footfall in Derby city centre, the statement from the city council reads: “Pre-Covid-19, town and city centres were suffering a decline in footfall as a result of changes in consumer behaviours, with more people buying goods online.
“However, the pandemic has certainly accelerated the scale of these challenges, which is why the city centre features strongly in Derby’s plans for post-Covid recovery.
“The council has been working on a number of schemes and projects as part of its recovery plan, but the story goes further than that – the local authority is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to supporting our high streets.
“We will never ‘solve’ issues alone and our private sector partners, local businesses, and even ourselves as consumers all have a part to play.”
Businesses must complete their proposed project by February 22, 2022 and can apply for the scheme online.