County's Economy Action Group Christmas grants help
spread festive cheer
Worcestershire's Economy Action Group is helping people all
around the county to have a merry Christmas thanks to local cash
injections aiming to boost trade.
A total of £60,000 has been handed out to Worcestershire's six
districts (Wychavon, Worcester City, Redditch, Wyre Forest, Malvern
Hills and Bromsgrove) to help with festive promotions, which will
benefit businesses and traders during the year's Christmas
countdown.
The action group is the county's main partnership that's
tackling the effects of the national recession at local level.
Trish Haines, Worcestershire County Council's Chief Executive,
chairs the group, which includes district councils, the Chamber of
Commerce, Jobcentre Plus, Business Link, Community First and the
University of Worcester, among others.
The £10,000 windfalls have been used for a variety of things
including helping to fund town's annual Christmas lights and big
switch-on events, subsidised parking for late-night shopping,
festive street entertainment, seasonal markets and shopping voucher
cards.
Trish Haines, Chief Executive of Worcestershire County
Council and Chair of Worcestershire's Economy Action Group,
said: "We realise how important it is for our local
businesses that shoppers spend their money within the county,
rather than going to shopping centres elsewhere.
"The action group is determined to do everything it can to help
the local economy at this important time of year and we're hoping
to create a brighter Christmas for everyone by working together,
and supporting some of our great local shops."
Weekly updates highlighting Worcestershire Economy Action
Group's upcoming events, publicising new avenues for support and
general advice are now being 'tweeted' on Twitter.
Twitter is free to use, and you can sign up to the service by
creating an account on the Twitter website, http://twitter.com/EconomyAction/.
Once signed up, twitters can follow 'Worcestershire.' and look out
for Economy Action and the group's logo.
More information about the work the group is doing is also
available at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/economyaction
