A scheme to allow retail premises to improve their properties by way of a small grant should be repeated and factored into next year’s rates estimate, a local councillor has said.
And SDLP representative Thomas O’Hanlon has also enquired about other schemes which could benefit businesses in Ogle Street and Thomas Street in Armagh who missed out under townscape heritage funding.
The councillor was speaking at ABC Council’s economic development committee this week, as a paper was presented on a new ABC Enterprise Grant Fund, designed to support the growth and development of micro-businesses across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough.
Reference had earlier been made to a shopfront programme for the borough, although it was confirmed it would not feature as part of this latest initiative.
Ulster Unionist councillor Julie Flaherty said the issue of the state of properties was “probably one of the things I get asked about most in Portadown main street”.
She said business owners and the Chamber of Commerce were constantly raising the issue when she was “out and about in town”.
“Whatever we can do to advance some sort of a scheme that will help business owners, do it,” pleaded Councillor Flaherty.
“That’s such an important project for a lot of businesses and just whatever we can do, if we can do it, it will be very, very welcome and very, very gratefully received.”
Enterprise development manager Sarah Jane MacDonald confirmed shopfront improvement would “not be included in this call of the grant” under the Enterprise Fund.
She told the committee this was unfortunate, but due to the timeframe required.
However, Ms MacDonald added: “It’s something we’d definitely be keen to explore in future iterations.
“This money must be fully spent and processed by the end of March, but hopefully in future iterations we’ll be able to explore things like that.
“This fund will be supporting the purchase of new equipment or machinery, contributing towards business productivity growth or efficiency, and computer equipment and software.
“It’s a 50 per cent grant up to £5,000, which is fully funded by council, with the business providing the match funding.”
Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon was keen to see the reintroduction of a previous programme to allow businesses to make cosmetic changes to their high street appearance through a small grant, describing it as “one of the most impactful schemes that I’ve actually seen”.
“We rolled it out as part of the EI schemes, about £750 per premises,” he explained. “It was a lick of paint at the front. The impact that made in town centres!
“It was easier for businesses to access. It gave a lot of painters and decorators a lot of work in our towns and villages. But that small £750 grant was really, really impactful.
“The number of businesses that could avail of it — we were getting more bang for our buck.
“I’d be keen if something could be brought back. I understand the limitations in this, but I’d be keen if it could be brought back as part of the process for the next financial year.”
Councillor O’Hanlon added: “I think it’s something I’d be keen we include as part of the rates-setting process as well — and more than just the actual shopfronts scheme.”
The SDLP man also asked if there was “any indication from the Department” around support for other programmes such as Meanwhile Occupied or Empty to Occupied.
“I think there were a couple of iterations of the scheme,” said Councillor O’Hanlon. “I’ve had a couple of contacts, particularly around Armagh city centre, coming down Ogle Street and into Thomas Street — parts of the city that didn’t benefit from the townscape heritage scheme.”
With that, he urged officers to “reach out to the departments and see if there’s some support there”.
Head of economic development Nicola Wilson explained that there was potential movement on the latter.
“I know there are discussions afoot with the corporate PMO with regard to a programme that the council will put forward to the Department for Communities on their forward work plan,” she explained.
“They were previous funders of those Empty to Occupied and the other programmes you mentioned, so I know that is very much in the mind of the head of that department and I know that he’s pushing forward with that.”
