Grants awarded to town centre firms
Tamworth Borough Council has awarded £22,500 grant funding to Tamworth town centre businesses to support local businesses in the current economic climate.
The cash will help town centre businesses establish or improve their physical or digital presence, gain new customers, increase turnover and increase opportunities for survival, through effective brand image and an improved service or product.
The council, using funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, has allocated up to £25,000 every year for the next three years. Grants between £2,500 to £10,000 are available.
Successful applications had to meet certain business criteria including:
- Trading as a business for more than six months, with a premises based in the town centre
- Employ fewer than 250 employees
- Registered with HMRC or as a registered company
Any town centre business could apply through the council website.
As part of the application process, businesses were required to register as a member of the Tamworth Town Centre Business Hub, the council 's free online platform designed to provide a wide range of support, advice, training, with one-to-one advice and help available from a range of business specialists.
More than £123,000 worth of applications received, far exceeding the budget available this year. Each application was assessed against published criteria, with final decisions made by the Nominations and Grants Committee on 15 March.
Nine businesses within the town centre have been awarded £2,500 to fund projects.
The funding will support improvements to premises including new shop fronts, signage, external lighting, window and door replacements; plus, digital support including website design, social media and marketing campaigns.
The following businesses were successful:
Tamworth Sports Bar
The Old Bank House
The Colin Grazier Hotel/Ubar
Peri Finos
Anker Fish Bar
Tamworth Brewing Company
The King's Ditch
Retro Graphix
Gloria Jean's coffee
Anna Miller, assistant director for Growth and Regeneration at Tamworth Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful applications for funding to support our town centre businesses during these very challenging times.
“We know many businesses, shops and restaurants are working under very different conditions with the cost-of-living crisis and inflation. Therefore, we really want to reach out and offer additional support where possible.
“Although these grants will not be the answer to all the ongoing economic challenges, we do believe that these funds can go a long way in helping businesses upgrade their offering to customers and cover increased costs of items such as repairs, lighting and digital support. ” More�.
These grants are funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government 's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.