COLCHESTER’S Business Improvement District is ready to make its mark by kicking off a number of new projects to help improve the town centre’s fortunes.
Eight months after it was officially created, Our Colchester’s Business Improvement District is set to launch a new consumer focused brand to promote its members.
Launching at the start of August, the new brand will be separate from but alongside Our Colchester and will have its own social media accounts and website.
Sam Good, BID manager, said: “Our Colchester is corporate and about business to business.
“We want to use the new brand to pull together all the fantastic work which all the different groups in the town centre are doing like North Essex Larder, Visit Colchester and Colchester Life.
“Our new website will have a full directory for each levy paying business and we are going to have list of events in the town centre.”
Next week, work will also begin on improving a number of key gateways into the town centre for visitors.
A number of planting projects will take place in Middleborough, Crouch Street, St John’s, St Botolph’s Queen Street and Long Wyre Street to make the town more attractive and welcoming to residents.
Mr Good said: “We want to hit impact areas which will effect people’s opinions of the town centre.
“Next year we want to turn the scheme out to businesses and the community and get schools involved but we really want to get it right this year and next year we can build on that.”
External organisations will be invited to bid for a share of £12,000, which has been made available for projects to promote or improve the town centre.
Applications for the new Create Fund can be submitted both for new projects and to expand existing offerings.
Mr Good said work was also continuing on cleanliness and empty units, which could find alternative uses.
“We are in the process of sending a letter out with Colchester Council to landlords asking them to work with us,” he said.
“We are willing to work with them to get businesses into the premises or perhaps to have some artists display their work.
“Ping pong in empty units has become popular elsewhere and a lot of people are doing things like 3D experiences inside them.”
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