SNP Welcome Retail Improvement Scheme for Formartine Businesses

Funding is being offered to local businesses in the Formartine area to help pay for improvement and enhancement works.

The Formartine Retail Improvement Scheme is designed to help local businesses face the new challenges brought on by changing living and retail patterns. It is hoped that the £60,000 fund will support and encourage private investment in retail premises and help keep the centre of our communities vibrant and bustling.

Grants of up to £5,000, a maximum of 50% of the total cost of the work, is available to retail businesses, which means around 20 businesses could benefit from the scheme. Qualifying businesses will be based in the centres of Ellon, Turriff and Oldmeldrum, or in rural communities and villages in the Formartine area.

The grants can be used for a range of work, including refurbishment of traditional architectural features, shop window displays, buying specialist equipment or redecoration of the frontage. Participating businesses will also be offered advice to help ensure they are sustainable in the longer term.

Applications can be submitted to the Formartine Retail Improvement Scheme between Monday, February 4 and Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

Chair of the Formartine Area Committee and SNP councillor for Ellon & District, Cllr Rob Merson, said:

“It is vital that we do as much as we can to protect local businesses in a time of changing trends which are affecting our town centres and villages.

“I hope this funding will go a long way to keeping our town and village centres popular with local people and visitors alike.”

For more information or to request a printed or electronic application form, contact Douglas Rennie on douglas.rennie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 01467 628100.