Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - supported by the Department for Communities – is delighted to launch a Shop Front Revitalisation Scheme, helping local businesses spruce up and invest in their shopfronts, in turn making them more visually attractive and appealing to residents and visitors.
The grants scheme is part of the Mid and East Antrim Revitalising Town Centres 2023/24 Programme and is for eligible businesses in the town centres of Ballymena, Larne, and Carrickfergus.
The grants programme will offer grants ranging from £500 to £4,999 for businesses to help support the improvement of the overall appearance of commercial properties that front onto the streetscape in each of the town centres.
This will be complemented by additional investment by the Council and the Department for Communities in the infrastructure and life of the town centres - to make them safer and more attractive, and to increase footfall.
The Shop Front Revitalisation Scheme will launch on Wednesday 8 November with information workshops for interested parties being held on 6, 7 and 8 November at the following locations in each of the three town centres:
Monday 6 November
Studio Theatre, Braid Arts Centre Ballymena
6pm-7pm
Monday 6 November
Jubilee Hall, Carrickfergus Town Hall
6pm-7pm
Tuesday 7 November
McGarel Hall, Larne Town Hall
6pm-7pm
Wednesday 8 November Teams online session 6pm-7pm
Log on to the following link to register for the information sessions:
The Grant can cover 80% of the cost of eligible items or works up to a maximum of £4,999 per business.
The following types of business (with shop front onto the street or outdoor public footway) from these areas are eligible to apply:
•Independent retailers (engaged in the retail sale of goods)
•Independent private coffee shops, cafes, bars and restaurants
•Independent hair and beauty businesses
•Independent health and fitness related businesses
•Independent service providers such as estate agents, financial advisors, mortgage and insurance
•Business owners whose premises front onto public streets
•The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the subject premises and must provide proof of same.
Launching the scheme, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna, said:
“I am delighted to launch the Shop Front Revitalisation Scheme which will support improvement works on many town centre businesses across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne.This funding provides a much-needed means of support in these challenging times to help those who wish to invest in their properties within our towns.
“Council’s vision is that by focusing on regeneration initiatives such as this, we will ultimately help boost footfall in our town centres. I would urge the owners or leaseholders of properties within town centre boundaries to check their eligibility for this schemeand pop along to the information workshops taking place on the 6, 7 and 8 November.”
Gerard Murray, Director of Regional Development Office, Department for Communities said:
“The Department for Communities has been working closely with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to deliver the Revitalising Town Centre 2023/24 programme which this funding is part of. It will contribute to improving the streetscapes across the three towns and, along with the other initiatives, will shape our public spaces to be more appealing to residents and visitors. I would encourage as many eligible businesses as possible to find out more and take up this opportunity.”
The grants portal will be open on the 8 November.
Please log on to https://mea.eformz.info/
For further information, please email revitalise@midandeastantrim.gov.uk