Businesses line-up for grants to improve their premises in March town centre

Around 40 shops and businesses have applied for grants to help improve their premises in the heart of March town centre.

Applications for the Shopfront Grant Scheme launched by Fenland District Council at the start of last month closed on Friday, August 30.

In a report as a district councillor to last night’s town council meeting Councillor Jan French told members the response to the scheme had been amazing.

She said: “As far as I know we have had between 35 and 40 businesses apply. They will not all be successful, and the process to decide who will receive a grant is now underway.”

The grant scheme is made up of cash from the £ 8.4 million March Future High Streets town centre regeneration investment.

Businesses were invited to apply for grants of up to £50,000 from a pot of £540,000, money left over from the regeneration scheme.

It was billed as a “fantastic opportunity” when the scheme was launched with the aim of making the town more attractive to shoppers and future investors by renovating business premises including doing up shop fronts.

Once the successful bidders have been chosen a more detailed application process will follow.

The grant will cover up to 95% of the cost of any project and councillors were concerned that some businesses may not have the money to cover the 5% contribution needed.

It was suggested that business owners should approach their property landlords for help if that was the case.

Councillor Martin Field felt it should be the landlords who contributed in any case as it would be their premises that were benefiting from the grants.

Councillor Jennifer Lawler agreed and said she had been told by some businesses they simply did not have the money adding: “It would be nice if the landlords paid it.”