East Lothian Council and Haddington & District Community Council have unveiled the next phase of an ongoing programme of Haddington town centre improvement works.

The first round of the Haddington Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme, funded by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, successfully supported 13 businesses to carry out repairs or enhance the visual appearance of their properties within the historic town centre environment, with the aim of encouraging more people to use the town's fantastic shops and services.

The second and final round of funding will aim to continue the support available to business owners and community organisations within the town centre, with grants of up to 75% of eligible costs available, up to a maximum of £3,000. The fund is limited, and all applications received will be assessed in terms of the fund priorities and grant awards made accordingly.

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Funded works can include redecoration, new signage, repairs to shopfronts, reinstatement of missing architectural details or replacement of the shopfront with a new frontage. The fund is now open for applications with a deadline for submissions of Monday 9 September 2024.

A drop-in meeting for anyone interested in making an application for funding through the scheme will be held on the evening of Thursday 15 August 2024 from 6-8pm in the Victoria Inn, 9 Court Street, Haddington.

Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, Councillor John McMillan, said: "These grants have already helped a number of businesses improve the look of their premises in Haddington town centre. There have been a lot of changes in retail premises in this area recently so I think this next round of grants will be even more in demand. I'd advise anyone with a town centre shop to apply. Improving the look of our historic town is a huge benefit to local people and visitors alike and in attracting future investment."

Chrisoph Crepaz, Chair of the Haddington & District Community Council Town Centre Development Group, said: "We are excited to launch the second round of this scheme. It's an excellent opportunity for businesses to enhance their presence and contribute to the overall charm of our town. The positive feedback and visible improvements from the first round have been tremendous, and we look forward to seeing more transformations that will boost community pride and economic vitality."