Council host online info sessions for firms

The online sessions will be held on Wednesday, September 23 for localbusinesses at 11am and at 2.30 pm for businesses in the Strabane area. If you are interested in taking part please register in advance via https://businessengagement.eventbrite.co.uk.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Brian Tierney will chair the online sessions. Encouraging local businesses to sign up and take part, Mayor Tierney said the sessions will provide businesses with an overview of Covid Business Recovery Grant Schemes that are available for them to apply for, as well as provide information in relation to the proposed plans for the city centre infrastructure Covid Recovery Scheme. Details of the proposed animation programme scheduled for the city and town centres during Halloween and Christmas will also be included as part of the information session.

He said: “These two information sessions are a must for local businesses in Derry and Strabane who are interested in finding out at first-hand about the level of Government intervention that is available.

“The Council’s business team have been busy collating all this information and advising local companies on how to apply for available funding and get their businesses up and running in compliance with COVID-19 regulations.

“An important part of the session will be an update from the Environment and Regeneration section in relation to the proactive collaborative approach to improving the physical infrastructure in the city and town centre to encourage retail in a safe and social distanced environment. An update on how businesses can get involved in securing funding to install outdoor seating or awnings will also be provided.”

The Mayor added that details of the 2020 Halloween and Christmas celebrations will be outlined at the information sessions and businesses will be encouraged to maximize the opportunities that exist around the planned animation programmes.

He concluded: “This year’s Halloween and Christmas celebrations are going to be very different from previous years with the focus on digital and community. Council is embarking on a campaign to encourage people to shop local and support local businesses in a safe and controlled environment. A bespoke animation programme of activity, currently being organized by the Council’s events team will form a key element of that messaging and will be in place at key points in both Derry and Strabane to encourage people back into the town centres in a safe manner.”

Businesses interested in taking part are urged to register in advance via https://businessengagement.eventbrite.co.uk.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you