NMD Opens Covid-19 Support Fund For Businesses

Council Welcomes Departmental Support of COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan.

Council Welcomes Departmental Support of COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council has launched a ‘COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan’. Its aim is to deliver financial support for a range of businesses across the district.

The announcement of the scheme follows ministerial approval of funding for town and city centres to tackle the economic impact of COVID-19. 

£433,000 of funding for the ‘COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan’ will come from the Department for Communities (DfC). A further £157,000 will be awarded from the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The Revitalisation Plan is to be rolled out in two phases. Tranche One seeking to deliver shop front enhancements, create space to facilitate social distancing, develop outdoor artisan markets and undertake town centre promotional campaigns under the ‘Shop Frontage Revitalisation Scheme’. 

Newry Mourne and Down is offering support package for businesses affected by Covid-19 focusing on traders and retail sector to make spaces safer.
Councillor Laura Devlin Chairperson Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Tranche Two will involve approval of an additional delivery action plan following a stakeholder engagement process.

It will seek to address issues in relation to dereliction, signage improvement as well as enhancing and cleaning existing town centres where required.

Devlin Welcomes Covid-19 Package For Local Businesses.

In welcoming the funding, Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Laura Devlin said: “We are delighted by the announcement of much needed funding from DfC and DAERA for our district.

“Our businesses have suffered greatly over the last five months. The allocation of the funding through the ‘COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Plan’ provides an opportunity to try and offer some much-needed support, both directly to traders and to make our retail public spaces a safer environment.”

The Plan will begin with an Expression of Interest (EOI) process on the proposed ‘Shop Frontage Scheme’.

If you need assistance to enhance your premises and make it COVID-19 safe, EOI forms and further information are currently available from:

www.newrymournedown.org/business-grants-and-funding