Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig has unveiled a £20m fund to support the regeneration of high streets across the city region.
The Good Growth High Streets Fund will open for applications from businesses, business groups and voluntary and community organisations later this year.
Funding will support locally developed projects intended to revive vacant premises, attract visitors, increase footfall and help independent businesses prosper.
Craig (main picture, right_ announced the initiative during a visit to Middleton town centre as she began her second week as mayor.
TASKFORCE TO SHAPE REVIVAL PLANS
Local businesses and community organisations are also being invited to join a new High Streets Taskforce.
The group will help design Greater Manchester’s high street strategy and support its implementation across the city region.
Both initiatives form part of the mayor’s Our High Streets campaign, which will run throughout her term and seek to make the benefits of Greater Manchester’s economic growth more visible within individual communities.
“People want practical support now.”
Craig says: “Our high streets are the beating hearts of our communities, and people want to feel pride about where they live.
“They are rightly worried and frustrated when they see derelict pubs, boarded-up shops and dodgy operators, and independent traders moving away. They want to see practical support for local businesses now. And that’s why I’m taking action.
“Our new £20 million Good Growth High Streets Fund is all about restoring pride in a vibrant high street – backing our neighbourhoods and spreading the rewards of good economic growth everywhere.”
MIDDLETON REGENERATION PLANS PROGRESS
The mayor launched the initiative in Middleton, where proposals for a new Mayoral Development Corporation are progressing.
Co-chaired by actor Steve Coogan and Co-operatives UK chief executive officer Rose Marley, the corporation is intended to accelerate the regeneration of the town centre and support the development of approximately 1,500 homes.
The high street programme follows Greater Manchester’s Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, which has backed community-led projects providing everyday goods and services.
It will also sit alongside the city region’s £2bn Good Growth Fund, which is supporting regeneration, employment and economic development projects across Greater Manchester.
