16
Apr
Harrogate Fairtrade and Ripon BID among winners in mayor’s £2 million high street fund
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Five schemes in the Harrogate district have been awarded a total of £583,656 in the third and final round of funding from mayor David Skaith’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.
The fund, set up by the Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, was set up to revive high streets.
A total of 26 projects across the region have received funds in the latest round, it was announced today (April 16).
They are intended to “drive long term regeneration and strengthen the resilience of local high streets”
The five Harrogate district winners are:
£149,633 to Harrogate Fairtrade
For a collaborative ethical shop for Harrogate with refill centre, pop-up space, workshops, charity awareness-raising, and supported training places for people with learning difficulties and autism.
£148,488 to Harrogate International Festivals
For Harrogate Unlocked, a programme of high-impact, outdoor, cultural activity delivering additional footfall, economic impact and long-term resilience for Harrogate’s High Street.
£119,215 to Harrogate Heritage & Community Development Project
For the Harrogate Story, a town centre hub on West Park offering visitor information, showcasing the heritage of the spa town through interactive displays and providing community event and exhibition space.
£86,205 to Ripon Business Improvement District
For a creative streets project that celebrates Ripon’s heritage on the high street. It will include a programme of heritage murals, hornblower civic sculpture and a Ripon high-street heritage trail to boost footfall, dwell time and pride in Ripon’s city centre.
£80,115 to Nidderdale Plus Partnership
To provide an annual events and business association project. The project will deliver an annual programme of new events and activities, uniquely branded to Nidderdale, and set up a new Nidderdale Business Association.
Mr Skaith said:
The final phase of the high street fund has backed 26 creative projects from the people who know their community best.
When we work together, we will transform our high streets into vibrant destinations that residents and visitors will want to return to again and again.
A Nidderdale Plus Partnership spokesperson said it was “absolutely thrilled” to receive the grant, adding:
We know that Nidderdale is a great place to live, visit and work, and we want to work together throughout our whole area to put this grant award to work to improve our local economy.
The grant will help communities throughout Nidderdale, not just Pateley Bridge, and in so doing will help make Nidderdale a fabulous place to live and work, and a standout tourist destination.
A total of 65 projects across York and North Yorkshire have received grants since Mr Skaith introduced the fund in February 2024.
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