Harrogate Business Improvement District has opened its 2022 Town Centre Improvements grant scheme.
Qualifying businesses will be able to claim match-funded grants of up to £750 for making a variety of upgrades, including paintwork, signage and accessibility, which are designed to make Harrogate town centre safe, clean and welcoming.
Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:
“Harrogate BID is keen to support levy-paying businesses in making improvements to their street frontages, the accessibility of their premises and the gateways to the town centre, by providing financial support through match funding.
“We know that businesses in the town centre are facing unprecedented pressures, and we want to ensure that Harrogate remains a desirable place to do business by helping them deliver an aesthetic ‘Welcome to Harrogate’.
“These grants, which help support one of the key objectives in our business plan, namely Safe, Clean and Welcoming, can be used for a variety of different projects.
“As long as the work enhances a façade, or makes it more accessible for disabled customers, we will consider it. As there is a limited budget for the 2022 Town Centre Improvements grant scheme, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.”
Businesses should submit their request for grant support to Harrogate BID via email to: info@harrogatebid.co.uk including a brief description of the proposed work.
Grantley Hall restaurant launches new menu
The Orchard restaurant at Grantley Hall near Ripon has launched its new spring/summer menu.
It offers light, alfresco lunches in the sunshine and cocktails that overlook the manicured grounds of Grantley.
“The Orchard’s spring and summer menu compliments the change of the seasons by offering light and refreshing options, such as an array of succulent seafood dishes, with everything from king prawns and Whitby lobster to chargrilled swordfish – all cooked to perfection by our talented chefs.”
Harrogate businesses frustrated over delayed covid restart grants
Harrogate district business owners have expressed frustration about still waiting for government grants intended to help them reopen safely.
The government announced in the March budget that restart grants of up to £18,000 would be available from April 1.
Harrogate Borough Council, which is administering the grants locally, has previously said it hoped to be able to start awarding grants from April 26.
It has received more than 1,600 applications and although at least a third have been paid, many business owners are still waiting for them and some are exasperated by a lack of communication from the council.
Kate Borgen, owner of Ikonik Hair on King’s Road, was disappointed not to have received the grant before reopening:
“The problem for our industry is that demand is so high right now so all our costs are high because of rising costs for products. Without having that restart grant it’s been quite difficult.”
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Matthew Norris, owner of Sandwiches and More in Bilton and on Royal Parade, Harrogate applied for a grant as soon as the scheme opened on April 8 and is still waiting.
He told the Stray Ferret he had emailed the council twice in the last week, and sent messages on Facebook and Twitter, without receiving a response.
The scheme has been criticised for coming too late to help many businesses which reopened on April 12.
Its aim was to help non-essential retail and hospitality businesses to reopen safely but stringent anti-fraud checks imposed by the national government on local authorities has meant that almost none were able to send out money in time for the initial easing of lockdown restrictions.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough council said:
“We’ve been working very hard since last year to administer the various financial support schemes the government has offered. Grants worth millions of pounds have been paid to thousands of businesses across the district.
More than 1,600 restart grant applications have been received. So far, we’ve approved 902 of those and payments totalling £6.8 million have been made to businesses. We will continue to work as hard as we can to process the other applications and – subject to the checks that have to take place – we aim to have made all payments by May 14.”
Harrogate charity receives grant to support pupils during holidays
A Harrogate bereavement and emotional wellbeing charity has been awarded a grant boost of more than £30,000.
Just ‘B’ will use the money to provide workshops and therapy sessions for vulnerable students during the school holidays. Themes covered will include gangs and youth violence, domestic abuse, and digital media risks.
The grant is part of £6.5m from the Youth Endowment Covid-19 Fund and has been offered to 130 organisations across the country. It aims to limit the number of people being drawn into violent crime as well as tackling issues young people have experienced as a result of covid.
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Tony Collins, chief executive of Just ‘B’ said:
“The challenges and hardships that some of our most vulnerable young people face have been exacerbated by covid… we are proud to be one of the organisations chosen for this grant and it will enable us to build on the work we are already doing to help children and young people to overcome difficult circumstances and face a more positive future.”
Just ‘B’ is also calling for the community’s help to win £1m in a charity competition. Persimmon Homes Yorkshire has shortlisted three charities across the county to represent the region in its Building Futures scheme. Voting closes on September 18.