Breckland Council has relaunched its popular Meanwhile Enterprise Grant Scheme under a new name – the Reopen Scheme – A Meanwhile Grant – to support local entrepreneurs and revitalise high streets across the district.
It’s the latest in a long line of support offered by Breckland in its bid to create flourishing market towns.
The initiative runs alongside the Shopfront Repair and Redecoration Small Grants Scheme, which uses funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to enhance the look and feel of the region’s high streets.
The council also recently allocated £285,000 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to help rural businesses start up, grow or diversify.
This public investment has already unlocked an additional £1,104,341 in private sector funding, bringing the total investment into Breckland’s rural economy to £1.4 million.
Breckland has also partnered with Norfolk County Council for another round of the Love Your Market Town grant scheme, which last year saw ten organisations awarded grants to help them improve footfall and increase sales in our market towns.
The original grant scheme has already helped several businesses breathe new life into vacant town centre properties, strengthening the local economy and improving the vibrancy of Breckland’s towns.
Since starting the programme in late 2022, the council has invested over £180,000, helping 21 entrepreneurs open their first business, created over 20 jobs, and fill over 1000 m2 of empty commercial space.
The refreshed Reopen scheme will build on this success, and offers two types of funding to help local enterprises take their next step:
Vacant High Street Shop Grant – up to £8,000 to support businesses and community groups moving into empty shops in market towns or substantial villages.
Market Town Stall Grant – up to £1,000 to help traders establish a regular stall in one of Breckland’s busy market towns.
Applications are open now. More information at the Reopen Scheme webpage.
