York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub, Make it York and York BID are set to receive funding to deliver a range of initiatives to improve York’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
To date City of York Council has received a total of £7,789,802 of funding from Central Government under the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme to support businesses severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
With £7,514,691 already spent on various initiatives to strengthen York’s economy, including £6,671,401 paid directly to local businesses as grant support, the council is keen to utilise the remaining funding to deliver additional business support activity in York.
City of York Council will provide £120k of funding to York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub to deliver a wide-ranging programme of business support to assist businesses with their recovery from the pandemic, and to aid their resilience.
A further £90k has been allocated evenly between Make it York and York BID to support the delivery of local projects designed to improve city centre footfall and boost trade. Both organisations play a key role in supporting a vibrant city centre and have been adversely affected by the pandemic. This funding will enable both organisations to deliver an exciting range of initiatives over 2022/23 that will boost the city centre’s economic recovery.
Andrew Raby, manager of the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, said: “There will be a range of support offers thanks to this funding which will make a real difference to small and medium sized businesses in the city.
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with City of York Council to take this opportunity forward. The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub is an experienced team, providing free and impartial business support, which is tailored around the needs of our region and this funding allows us to significantly increase that support. ”
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director, Make It York, said: “Make it York are pleased to receive the ARG funding which will help support an Art Trail in York later this year. We will be working with partners to develop the trail and will unveil the plans over the coming months. This is a really exciting project and will be lots of fun for everyone.”
Andrew Lowson, executive director, The York BID, said: “The York BID is pleased that it can support City of York Council by using government ARG money to help the recovery of the city centre post COVID. We have done this successfully in the past with our outdoor seating projects and we will ensure this funding is specifically used on projects this year to encourage footfall and benefit trade for our businesses.”
Cllr Andrew Waller, the council’s Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “The ARG scheme has been a lifeline to local small businesses. The council has decided to allocate the last of the ARG funding to our partners – York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub, Make it York and York BID – who will deliver a wide range of support for additional business activities around the city.
“We hope that this provides a welcomed boost to York businesses, whether that is through targeted programmes of business support or initiatives designed to increase footfall in the city centre and help businesses to flourish.
“Previously, the ARG scheme funded the council’s very successful Business Growth Voucher Scheme that funded 434 projects to take place in York, connecting businesses wanting support with local providers of business support. In addition, the council also made direct payments to 116 businesses across York to provide them with financial aid during the rise of the omicron variant.”
