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During a visit to Carrickfergus, Minister Lyons praised the completion of the £350,000 'Revitalising our Town Centres' programme, which has transformed the façades of over 77 business premises across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne. The scheme, jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC), also supported marketing initiatives aimed at drawing more visitors to the towns.
"It's great to see the completion of this £350,000 investment across the towns of Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena. With improved shopfronts and marketing support, we are enhancing the look of our high streets and encouraging people to visit and enjoy our welcoming town centres. The shopfront improvements are making a positive impact across our local towns, and I am pleased that my Department has been able to support this vital boost to local businesses for the benefit of everyone," said Minister Lyons.
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The initiative focused on enhancing the visual appeal of local businesses through improvements such as fresh paintwork, updated signage, and heritage-sensitive restorations. The goal was to foster a stronger sense of place, boost community pride, and support economic resilience.
The scheme was overseen by MEABC and aimed to directly benefit local traders while making town centres more attractive and welcoming for residents, shoppers, and visitors alike.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, who joined Minister Lyons and local business owner Nicola Keating of Activefeet Podiatry Clinic in Carrickfergus, said: "Supporting our local businesses is at the heart of what we do and through this scheme, we've been able to partner with traders to make real improvements to our town centres. These enhancements not only improve the look and feel of our high streets, but they also contribute to creating a more vibrant and economically resilient Borough."
