Funding to support Colchester town centre's recovery from COVID-19
Money has been set aside for creative and innovative events and new project ideas
Funding is being offered to support the recovery of Colchester's town centre after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Business Improvement District (BID) has amended the usual Create Fund to the ‘COVID-19 Recovery Fund’.
It is said to be "keen" to work with organisations which are looking to carry out "exciting, creative, and innovative projects" in the next six months.
The BID has set aside £15,000 per financial year to contribute towards creative and innovative events and new project ideas that will have a positive impact in the area.
Of that, £5,000 has been set aside from each of the BID’s delivery streams: Connecting, Imagining, Invigorating.
Sam Good, manager of Our Colchester BID, said:
"I think it's just so important now because it helps with the town centre's recovery.
"We all know that experiences, be that events or projects or engaging initiatives, are the future of town centres.
"This allows the expertise to come in and deliver in the town centre, that probably wouldn't have been delivered otherwise.
"For us, we're a Business Improvement District so we're a business led, business funded group that invest in the improvement of Colchester town centre.
"So anything that we can do to support an event from not happening to happening, be that through funding or expertise or support, then that's what we're here to do."
Applications must be for less than £5,000.
The BID has said "community groups, associations and organisations who have a good idea for a town centre project or event but need a small amount of revenue funding to develop, test and launch their activity can apply".
A panel will then discuss each application and decide which have been successful.
To apply, people must fill out an application form and email it to hello@ourcolchester.co.uk .
The deadline for applications is Friday, 26 March.
Find out more about the eligibility criteria here.