Norfolk’s market towns invited to apply for grants to attract more visitors
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Projects that are aimed at increasing sales and footfall in market towns will be able to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 through an initiative being rolled out across the whole of Norfolk.
Organisations and businesses are being invited to apply for the Love Your Market Town fund’s Pride of Place grants to fund ideas designed to encourage people to visit and shop in their local towns more frequently. The scheme is supported by Norfolk County Council and the district councils and applicants have until Sunday 31 August to submit their ideas.
A diverse range of projects have already been supported through the pilot version of the fund. Florist Lydia Bustin will hold an exhibition at St Mary’s Church in Attleborough later this month with five large-scale floral installations each depicting a significant era in the town’s history.
Lydia, 29, commented: “Having been awarded with the Love Your Market Town grant last year, I have been able to organise an exhibition to showcase my work as well as showcase our town and its rich history and community.
“With small businesses being the make-up of our local towns, it is extremely important that they are supported as much as they can be.”
Downham Market’s historic association with gingerbread was celebrated last Christmas in a project created by Mabel Bakery. Business owners were invited to create gingerbread models representing their shops or companies and these were displayed in shop windows and people were encouraged to take part in the trail by collecting a passport or booklet and getting it stamped off at each location.
The event was launched at the Christmas Lights Switch-On promoted through local businesses, Downham Market Town Council, Visit West Norfolk, and the Borough Council.
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Norfolk County Council said: “I am really passionate about how fantastic our market towns are, and this time I’m delighted to be rolling out the scheme to the whole of Norfolk.
“The initiative is based on successful pilots we have run in Breckland and West Norfolk over the last two years and is designed to develop new ideas that will give local residents a great reason to visit their town centres.”
Once ideas have been submitted, they will be reviewed by an independent panel and applicants will be notified of the outcome by Tuesday 30 September.
Applications are welcome from any local groups or business, but any activity must be a brand-new idea and should support multiple areas or services within a Norfolk market town. There is no limit to the kind of activities that can be funded but the idea must have a link to creating interest or increasing footfall in town centres.
For more information, and to express interest in bidding for a grant, please visit.
Deadline for applications closes on Sunday 31 August 2025.
NOTE: Your project must be located within the boundaries of Norfolk County Council.