Four Falkirk district areas get £30,000 to aid Covid-19 recovery

The £30,000 given to the four areas comes from the Towns and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Resilience and Recovery Fund, financed by the Scottish Government and administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.

The fund has helped to pay for PPE supplies and funded marketing campaigns urging people to support businesses in their community, highlighting they are open for business.

Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “Businesses in our town centres are showing remarkable resilience and innovation in how they are responding to the consequences of Covid-19 to best serve their customers and communities.

“From rapidly accelerating their online offerings to moving quickly to ensure that safeguards are in place to ensure that staff can work safely and customers shop responsibly, their work is playing an important part in the nation’s recovery from the pandemic. The impact they are having should not be underestimated.

“We are delighted to have been able to support Falkirk Council and pleased that the work will touch on so many towns as we encourage everyone to think local first – and safety first – to support the businesses and the people behind them who really are at the heart of the areas in which they live.

“Whether it be buying your groceries or enjoying a meal out, the support you give is critical as we work hard to secure a sustainable and successful future for Scotland’s town centres.”

The Towns and BIDs Resilience and Recovery Fund totals £2 million.

While half of this has been used towards the current wave of grants, £700,000 will provide support to business improvement districts when current BIDs Resilience funding expires.

The remainder of the money includes support for the Scotland Loves Local campaign, a major multimedia promotion championing the message for shoppers to think local first.

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