Boost for Canterbury’s suburban business communities

The announcement of a grant to help revitalise Canterbury’s suburban business communities is a huge boost to Canterbury’s earthquake-affected suburbs, according to Recover Canterbury.

The grant of up to $140,000 from the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust will go towards the marketing and promotion of earthquake-affected precincts and the businesses within them.

Recover Canterbury, which was established to assist business recovery following the earthquakes, says the funding will provide the suburban business precincts with a real financial hand up.

“We are enormously grateful to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust for this funding and the support they are providing to Canterbury’s suburban businesses.  This funding will help local, small to medium businesses re-engage with their communities, assist to revitalise their area and will keep the business heart of our suburban communities pumping,” says Recover Canterbury Operations Manager Bridget Frame.

The funding will be distributed by Recover Canterbury, through the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust.  As well as being earthquake-affected in terms of reduced trade, precincts gaining funding will have to provide a viable business plan with participating businesses also making a financial contribution to the recovery efforts. 

Recover Canterbury has already been working with a number of suburban business precincts and sees real value in the collaborative, community-based initiatives which this funding will support.

“The earthquake has resulted in a number of businesses in various precincts starting to work together for the first time.  Through disaster we have seen amazing levels of collaboration where businesses, residents and authorities are working together to produce tangible results not just for the businesses but for the wider community.

“This funding will enable this collaboration to happen on a greater scale and will make an enormous difference in terms of building community awareness of local businesses, creating a sense of community pride and inspiring residents to support their reinvigorated communities.  By developing loyalty and bringing much needed retail activity to these communities we will create a legacy that will benefit our suburban communities for years to come,” says Ms Frame.

The funding from the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust will support activities such as business-orientated community events, marketing and promotion.  Precincts that have been identified as being suitable for funding and which are currently working with Recover Canterbury include Sumner, Edgeware, Rangiora, Papanui, Merivale and Sydenham. Suburban business groups interested in this initiative can contact Recover Canterbury.