Braintree District Council has launched a Festive Boost Grant to help the district’s town centres look festive this winter.
The council has allocated £30,000 of financial support to help businesses in the district’s town centres invest in festive lights and decorations to boost footfall and trading conditions during the festive season. The funding will allow businesses to decorate their exterior premises and front-facing windows to maximise their sales and to establish a festive feel to the town centres.
The match-funded grant of £150 (50% match-funded) will be available to up to 200 eligible businesses within the Braintree, Witham, and Halsted town centres. Funding can be put towards lights, decorations, temporary window art and displays for shop fronts.
Town centres in Braintree, Witham and Halstead have been divided into six zones. Funding has been ringfenced to be distributed equally across these areas of the three towns and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If after the deadline, the grant has not been fully allocated within a designated town zone, it will be redistributed to those who had not secured funds by date order.
Cllr Frankie Ricci, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council, said: “By providing these grants to businesses, we are investing in a long-term solution to make the towns attractive and welcoming for the Christmas season – a key time for many businesses in the district.”
The grant opens Tuesday 1 October and will remain open until all the money has been allocated. For full terms and conditions and to apply for the grant, businesses are encouraged to visit the webpage: www.braintree.gov.uk/festiveboost