€100,000 for east Mayo town's streetscapes and shopfronts

BALLYHAUNIS is to benefit from a fund of €100,000 to support the enhancement of its streetscapes and shopfronts.

The funding is being allocated to Mayo County Council under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative. Twenty-six towns nationwide have been selected for funding.

Deputy Alan Dillon explained how the initiative will provide retail and property owners in Ballyhaunis with grants they can use to give their business a facelift. The primary aim is to make towns and villages more attractive places to live, work or visit.

He commented: “Ensuring our towns are vibrant places to live and work is needed as we recover economically post-pandemic. Streetscapes offers businesses a new lease of life and the opportunity to get creative.

“Our local authority will manage the initiative and will begin advertising for applications in the coming weeks.”

Also welcoming the announcement, Deputy Michael Ring said retailers and property owners will be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.

He commented: “I would urge businesses, property owners and retailers in Ballyhaunis to apply to Mayo County Council to avail of funding under this excellent initiative.”

The types of projects that could be supported include strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings and/or shopfronts in vibrant colours, upgrade or restoration of historic/traditional shopfronts, provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes, installation of canopies, murals or public artwork.