Mid & East Antrim Borough Council has announced that businesses in the town centres and large villages are now able to apply for grants from £500 up to £2,000 through the Covid-19 Revitalisation Recovery Programme.

The Programme, funded by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), will help deliver measures that provide a safer and more welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers and workers within our town centres and large villages.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston, said: "I am delighted that the grants available through the Revitalisation Recovery Programme are now open for businesses in Mid and East Antrim to apply for.

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"Our town centres are at the very heart of our local communities and this investment by DfC and DAERA is well-deserved recognition of the critical role they play in driving our local economy.

"The Town Centre Recovery Group which was set up has been working tirelessly to do all they can to assist businesses through this difficult period and these grants will only aid that recovery."

Businesses in the town centres of Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus, as well as the villages of Ahoghill, Broughshane, Cullybackey and Whitehead who meet the eligibility criteria are invited to apply for the grants.

Funding support can cover a wide variety of expenditure, including PPE equipment, internal social distancing measures, signage, contactless payment or app development for booking systems, upgrades to shop frontage, awnings/canopies; outdoor furniture; heaters, queueing systems; PA/tannoy systems and digital screens.