Suffolk Coastal District Council is continuing to put hard cash
to work to help sustain the local economy and support business
projects in its market towns.
Through its Economic Development Support Fund (EDSF) grants have
just been awarded to two more local projects helping businesses and
population centres to thrive as tourist and retail
destinations.
“Wickham Market Parish Council has just been awarded over £7,500
to help improve the town as a tourist and retail destination by
improving business signs so that visitors will be drawn to visit
the town centre and the surrounding shops,” said Cllr Colin Hart,
Cabinet Member for Economic Development.
The Businesses of Saxmundham have also been awarded £6,990 to
help encourage increased tourism and retail during the next
Christmas period. Working in partnership with the Heritage Coast
Market Town initiative they hope to attract more people to the town
so that local retailers and businesses see an increase in visitors
to coordinated local events. Joint working will maximise success
while making efficient use of limited resources.
“So far the support fund has awarded over £40,500 worth of
funding to local town or parish councils, businesses and population
centres as a source of funding for specific projects that will
promote economic growth and vitality. The fund is supported by
money received from the government as part of the Local Authority
Business Growth Incentive Scheme (LABGI) so there is no cost to
local council taxpayers,” added Cllr Hart.
Previous projects supported by Suffolk Coastal’s EDSF include a
monthly business breakfast club organised by Kesgrave War Memorial
Community Centre designed to help keep local businesses up to date
with legislative changes and brush up on new business skills. The
breakfast club is now up and running supporting over 300 community
businesses and employers across Kesgrave and Martlesham.
“Suffolk Coastal boasts many rural businesses and organisations
so we are keen to ensure that they are supported during the current
economic climate which has been particularly tough on some of our
smaller sized businesses. The sums involved are fairly modest but
by creating the fund we have clearly encouraged local organisations
to come up with innovative ideas to stimulate local economies.
“After the success of previous funding applications I hope that
other local businesses and organisations in the district will be
encouraged to find out how their towns can benefit from the support
that may be available to them.” added Cllr Hart.
Applications are welcome from market towns and population
centres from all parts of the district except Felixstowe and
Woodbridge which are already benefitting from separate economic
development schemes.
To find out more about the EDSF and how to apply for support,
those interested in applying can visit
www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/helpingpeople/communitygrants/supportfund
or contact a member of the economic regeneration and development
team on 01394 444625 or email
sonia.lambert@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk