A total of four businesses in Belfast are to help revitalise the city centre after benefitting from a pilot capital grant scheme 'Vacant to Vibrant' from Belfast City Council.

The council has allocated funding for the Future City Centre Programme, aiming to revitalise and diversify the city centre. One of the primary focuses of the program is addressing the issue of vacant city centre properties. The initiative prioritises strategies to combat vacancy, including targeted support for business start-ups, assistance with property location, and grants.

Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: "Since July 2022, our 'Vacant to Vibrant' grant programme has focused on incentivising businesses, charities, cultural or community groups and social enterprises to breathe new life into vacant city centre properties, so that we can help tackle dereliction, protect buildings of interest, increase footfall and support job creation. And our investment is also helping to boost the rates base which can then be reinvested in essential city services.

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"As well as capital funding, we offer support services to link businesses with potential units, help applicants create business plans and develop social media and marketing skills. We're particularly keen to encourage applications in high vacancy areas, and to stimulate innovative offerings which will meet city centre users and visitors' changing expectations and provide a real point of difference and authenticity for our city centre."

Sole.lo Ltd has secured funding to establish a pop-up store and event space on the ground and upper floors of 1 Cornmarket. The initiative aims to support the local business in creating a temporary city centre venue within a property with future long-term development.

The Hundredth Monkey Bakery will use the funding to expand their business in a unit that has been vacant for over a year. As well as creating a bakery / sandwich bar and open plan production space, they also plan to host community events and classes.

IN2 Engineering is using the funding to develop a creative design hub at the listed Tedford's Sail Loft Warehouse on Donegall Quay, transforming a property that has been vacant for over 20 years. The first and second floors will become an open plan studio space for architects and interior designers, graphic and web designers and a welcoming shop frontage to a maritime history interpretative space and coffee dock at ground floor level will also improve the streetscape.

Funding has been granted through the scheme to facilitate extensive refurbishment works at the former Craft World property on Queen Street. This investment aims to revitalise the property, restoring its functionality and enhancing its overall appeal.