Businesses in North Yorkshire encouraged to apply for new funding
North Yorkshire's Mayor has launched a £10million funding pot to support our High Streets
Last updated 8th Feb 2025
North Yorkshire's Mayor says he's confident our high streets can thrive - despite a huge shift to online shopping.
David Skaith has launched a 10 million pound fund to help businesses bring more people into our Town and City Centres.
Mr Skaith says the region’s town centres are ‘the heart of our communities’ but are battling the long-term impact of lockdown, online shopping and big, out-of-town retail parks.
He added: “For phase-one of the High Streets Fund, we’re welcoming grant applications from partnerships demonstrating fresh thinking and innovative ways to create vibrant, mixed-use town centres.
“We want to hear from organisations who are working collaboratively to create events, activities and spaces which increase footfall and staying time, while boosting a sense of community.
The Mayoral Challenge Fund comes as a part of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s devolution deal with the Government. He's also launched two other grant schemes.
The Carbon Negative Challenge Fund will offer grants to projects which demonstrate innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, in-turn, accelerate the region towards its ambition of achieving carbon-negative by 2040.
Meanwhile the Skills Innovation Fund will provide grants to support skills development across the region and tackle a number of challenges highlighted by stakeholders, including declining numbers of adults engaging in learning and the recruitment of tutors. The fund will help organisations to innovate in their delivery and build capacity in their workforce.
A fourth funding stream, the Business Innovation Fund, will launch in March, aiming to boost economic opportunity across York and North Yorkshire by attracting investment and supporting businesses in being more innovative, productive and resilient.
For more information on the Mayoral Challenge Fund, and the four grant programmes, go to York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Investment Fund