The Retail Regeneration Grant Scheme is being run by the Oswestry Joint Economic Board (OJEB), comprising Shropshire Councillors and Oswestry Town Councillors, and has a total of £75,000 to award to prospective projects. The aim is to create an attractive, customer- friendly town centre through regenerating retail premises.
Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, and local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South, sits on the panel and said:
“These projects signal the start of what we all hope will be a new beginning for Oswestry town centre. We still have £58,500 in funding to award to projects, so it’s looking promising. We encourage any individual or organisation with an idea to consider putting together an application for these grants.”
Martin Bennett, Mayor of Oswestry Town Council and local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, also sits on the panel and added:
“We realise that we are living through some very difficult times for the retail sector. We hope that these grants will help achieve something that the applicants may have struggled to do without some assistance from the councils, who are doing all they can to support Oswestry town centre.”
Vince Hunt, local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry West and the final panel member, said:
“The town centre is the hub of any small town, and the scheme is designed to help Oswestry recover from the recent hit it’s taken. I hope to see more applicants come forward with their ideas for the town, and I hope we can be of some help through the grants.”
Two of the projects approved so far have been granted the maximum £7,000, both for refurbishment of properties. One of the properties will be rented when completed, whereas another will become an estate agent. The third project received £1,500 in funding for shop fittings for a new fashion store. The two young women behind the plans have received business support and mentoring through the OJEB Start-up programme in November 2012.
The focus for the grants will be on properties in the town centre, and can support work to bring vacant shop premises and space into use, including the upper levels. Applicants are expected to provide funding from their own sources equal to the grant that they request.
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