First grant in Council’s Pride of Place scheme
A Whitehaven town centre pub has become the first successful applicant to a transformational grants scheme.
The Vine, in Market Place, will continue its renovation after receiving £5,000 from Copeland Council’s £1 million Pride of Place regeneration scheme. The grant will pay for the front of the pub to be painted.
Owner Aileen Pearson said she was “delighted” to be awarded the grant. She said: “It’s a big job to improve the frontage of the pub, and this money will allow me to make huge improvements.”
The Pride of Place scheme, launched last week, encourages business owners in Whitehaven, Millom, Egremont and Cleator Moor to enhance the external appearance of their buildings.
Grants are available for up to £5,000 for improvements to windows and frames, doorways, external decoration and signage. It is a 50 per cent contribution that means that businesses are required to invest in their premises to match-fund the grant.
Copeland Council had 59 enquiries in the first week following the scheme’s launch.
Mayor Mike Starkie said: “I’m delighted that the response has been so overwhelmingly positive to this project.
“I welcome The Vine – a long-established Whitehaven business – being the first grant recipient and I know this will be the first of many.
“We’re backing this scheme with £500,000 of council money to attract the same investment from the private sector.
£375k of the fund has been allocated to improving the town centres. £75k has been allocated to villages in Copeland and £50k for street improvements.
For more information contact Copeland Council’s Economic Development Department by email at [email protected] or by calling 01946 598433.
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