Businesses in Tamworth are set to have a greater say in the way the town centre is run and developed, Borough Council Leader Thomas Jay has revealed.
The council’s dedicated Economic Development and Regeneration service is already committed to improving the local economy, revitalising the town and supporting businesses to thrive.
It offers free business support together with business grants and works closely with a wide range of partners both in the public and private sector to develop a strong business community.
“Now the team is developing a town centre group for local businesses allowing them to have greater input,” said Cllr Jay in an exclusive interview with Daily Focus.
He highlighted the wide range of Borough Council initiatives that are underway in Tamworth to support the business sector and the general prosperity of the town.
The Future High Streets Fund programme will see over £40 million spent on revitalising the town centre with key projects such as the new South Staffordshire College campus to bring footfall to the town and improve the skills and prospects of young people.
The investment will also see a second enterprise centre for the town.
Meanwhile, businesses are benefiting from cash from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is distributed by the council.
Cllr Jay said: “Tamworth Borough Council is working hard to boost the prosperity of the town.
“It has several major projects and workstreams which are already starting to have a transformational affect.
“The second enterprise centre will provide affordable serviced office space, collaboration space, hot desks and meeting rooms to support the growth of new and small businesses.
“Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we’re supporting businesses and community groups with over £2million.
“Our ongoing business support package provides grants, workshops, training and networking opportunities to support the business sector and our wider regeneration programme includes the development of the large Gungate site which will allow a large underused area of the town to be regenerated.”
Cllr Jay described the town centre regeneration project as a “once in a generation opportunity.”
Tamworth was awarded £21.65 million from the Future High Streets Fund – one of only 15 towns to be given the full amount applied for – and work has already begun on the project.
The Council Leader points to the repurposing of vacant premises and the creation of new start-up space as being key business benefits of the initiative.
Meanwhile there are encouraging signs of inward investment into Tamworth, said Cllr Jay.
A project to deliver electric vehicle charging points throughout the borough in the coming years is being funded through an EV charging project with Staffordshire County Council.
The town has also seen significant inward investment along its eastern border linked to the M42 corridor and its importance for logistics.
