£2m fund to bring the buzz back to Sheffield streets
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Bids are now open for projects to help firms bounce back after lockdown.
Sheffield City Council is encouraging weekend markets, community events, pavement cafes, alfresco hospitality and public art to liven up streets.
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Hide AdThe cash is from the Economic Recovery Fund and is to support local areas, not businesses directly.
Grants of up to £50,000 and up to £200,000 will be made.
Bids will be judged by a steering group of of councillors and business leaders. Pitches for the bigger sum must be in by the end of April.
Coun Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re well aware that businesses are going to be reopening over the next few months with a lot of uncertainty about what they will be facing and how quickly trade will start to increase again.
“We’ve launched the Recovery Fund to help alleviate these concerns and to encourage businesses, particularly in district centres, to use this opportunity to showcase what their high street has to offer and create a real buzz in their communities.
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Hide Ad“Reopening the economy on this scale is something that we haven’t seen before in our lifetimes, so we wanted to put this fund in place to make this an opportunity to do something different.”
Louisa Harrison-Walker, director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and a member of the steering group said: “Local businesses are well placed to spark the ideas that will benefit their areas and this this fund provides a great incentive for collaboration.
“There is a real opportunity to create a lasting legacy by changing the way we work together, and by empowering collaboration and encouraging new ways for people to make a difference where they live. I can’t wait to see what comes forward.”
Emma Marshall, a member of the steering group and operations director at 3squared, said: “I know that this fund can help us start thinking not just about recovery, but also about the renewal of the economy and what that could look like.”
Apply here www.sheffield.gov.uk/recoveryfund.