Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Galway County Council has noted that funding will be allocated from capital costs from the recent Street Enhancement Scheme.
Senator Dolan noted
‘I am delighted to see this funding available for businesses from Galway County Council. I promoted this programme to many businesses in our town centre and pro-actively engaged with shopowners to submit applications.
‘This fund is part of the multi-million euro Street Enhancement Scheme and will come under capital costs. This is due to the impact to many shopfronts of the construction work that took place over the last number of years. We have fantastic new streets and now is the time to make them shine.
‘I spoke with Chief Executive Keven Kelly who confirmed that notification will issue to businesses in the next number of weeks. This fund includes match funding from businesses and it will cover the painting, renovation and development of shopfronts.
‘The Restart Grants and waiver on commercial rates from the Local Authorities combined with the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) are key government supports
A recently announced fund the Small Business Assistant Scheme for Covid (SBASC) offers €4,000 from January to March 2021 and also another €4,000 from April 2021 to June 2021 for those businesses which are not eligible for the CRSS programme. Do apply if your businesses is in receipt of a rates bill from their local authority with a turnover in excess of €50,000 and less than 250 employees. It will help smaller businesses in particular to cover these costs – rent, insurance, utilities, security’
Senator Dolan continued
‘This is a particularly difficult time with closures of businesses however we are coming through the toughest time and with the roll-out of the vaccine we will see our country open up in a safe way.
For local businesses who receive successful notifications under the Streetscape programme, I understand this requires match funding however I would encourage take up this once-off offer from Galway County Council. It will give such a boost to our shops and wider community, it will encourage people to spend time in our town and enjoy all that Ballinasloe has to offer.
‘Recent investment with Leader funding and Towns & Villages with BACD and our Town Team led to the fantastic display of Christmas Lights in Ballinasloe. It reawakened a real sense of pride and joy in our town, now we have a chance to plan for the future with this facelift – there will be no stopping us now!’
