Businesses in Gravesend town centre can now apply for grants of up to £5,000 to improve the look of their premises through Gravesham Borough Council’s new shopfront improvement grants scheme.
The council has been allocated £65,000 of UK Government funding to support business owners in improving the town centre.
Grants are available to new and existing businesses with at least three years left on their lease and can be used to improve the look, feel and appearance of their premises.
Eligible commercial premises include:
- Retailers, for example, grocers, butchers, bakers.
- Service providers such as hairdressers, beauty salons, barbers, funeral directors, launderettes, dry cleaners.
- Financial and professional services including accountants, estate agents, solicitors.
- Restaurants, public houses, cafes and food takeaways
National retailers and chains, national charities, betting shops, pawnbrokers, and vape shops are excluded from the scheme.
All applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed on a first come first served basis, with initial 50% payments made to successful applicants by December.
The closing date for applications is 25 October.
Launching the scheme, Cllr Deborah Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure, said: “We know businesses continue to face challenging times and money can be hard to find for improvements.
“These grants are not only about tidying up or reimagining shopfronts. They can also be used bring empty units back into use, make alterations to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime, and to make visiting a more pleasant experience for customers.
“We’ve been working hard with partners including Kent Police to make Gravesend a cleaner, safer place to visit, and now we hope business owners in the town centre will join with us and use these grants to make improvements to their shops and offices where they believe they are needed.
“Working together, we can build an attractive, welcoming town where local businesses can thrive.”
For full details including the area the scheme covers, full eligibility details, conditions, and how to apply for a grant, visit https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/regeneration/gravesend-town-centre-shop-front-improvement-grant