The IW Chamber Of Commerce is working with town and parish councils to help businesses with grants for refurbishment, supported by the new Isle Of Wight Lottery scratchcards. Matched funding is available to pay for new signage, investment in shop-fronts and similar projects to improve the look of the Island’s high streets and retail locations.
Shanklin is the first town to benefit from the new business support fund. Shanklin Town Council has match-funded a £2,000 grant from the Isle of Wight Lottery and the £4,000 total fund will be split between around 16 businesses in the town.
“We’re really grateful to the Chamber Of Commerce for their support,” says Richard Priest, Councillor for Shanklin Town Council. “It’s really positive and if we can get this replicated across the Island it’s a great way of making a difference. It shows that town councils and the Chamber can work together for the benefit of the community. A little bit goes a very long way.”
Shanklin’s Mayor, Councillor Jon Gilbey also welcomes the support for the town. “A lot of Island businesses rely on tourism and this scheme will hopefully encourage businesses to apply for a £250 grant. Decorating shopfronts or investing in new signage is a great way to start the tourist season.”
The IW Lottery has been supporting the Island economy since 2001 and has created and supported hundreds of jobs in the local economy, providing almost £700,000 of interest free loans to Island businesses. The IW Lottery Scratchcards offer a new, instant way to play, with prizes of up to £1000, with a 1 in 5 chance of winning. They are the only scratchcards where all the money stays on the Island and supports the local economy.
“We want to work with local town councils to improve the look and the visual aspect of our town centres across the Island,” says IW Chamber Of Commerce Chief Executive Kevin Smith. “In the absence of government funding the work of encouraging business growth still needs to be done. It’s even more important in the work that we need to do in helping young people into employment. The scratchcards are a new, innovative product and a fun way for the wider community to get involved and to support the Isle of Wight’s economy.
“We’ve committed £2,000 to Shanklin Town Council and the £4,000 total funding will go a long way. We want to replicate that across up to five other towns this year, possibly Sandown, Ryde, Ventnor and Newport. We don’t discount any other towns either.”
Would you like to sell our scratchcards in your shop? Do you want to find out more about the scratchcard grant scheme? Get more information about the Isle Of Wight Lottery Scratchcards by contacting the Chamber Of Commerce on 01983 520777.
