AvenCentral Projects (Business)

BIG in Preston

The BIG in Preston (Business Investment Grant in Preston) project was managed by Preston Business Venture and provides grant funding to new and existing micro, small and medium enterprises, situated within the AvenCentral area of Preston.

Business Accord

The Business Accord project aimed to engage the whole of the business sector within AvenCentral in the regeneration of the area. The project was providing the means by which businesses can come together and develop ideas, proposals and projects of benefit to the local business community. The project was also providing sufficient encouragement and support to local businesses to allow them to expand and create new job opportunities for local people.

In the last year of the programme the project was working with small businesses within the area on the potential of a business improvement area as well as continuing with its current work. The project also had a small grants programme to aid business with improvements to their premises.

CITY (Creativity & Innovation for Two Years)

CITY established a Creative Industries Quarter centred on Church Street in the city centre called PAD. The gallery and shop promoted the work of Lancashire based artists and designers. The project was also helping to sustain the FRESH programme encouraging graduate retention and new businesses. Six people were employed to undertake development work with small and medium enterprises in the AvenCentral area.

Friargate Brow Shops

The project was the second phase of the Friargate Brow Economic Regeneration programme. A grant scheme provided financial assistance to the owners of properties on the Brow that want to undertake renovations/repairs to the facades that face onto the brow.

Preston Moneyline

Preston MoneyLine(now called Lancashire Community Finance) is a not for profit community business offering loans and financial help to personal and business customers who are unable to obtain finance from high street banks or building societies.
The aim of Preston MoneyLine was to promote financial inclusion for the people of Preston and assistance may be provided despite previous credit problems. Interest rates are realistic (far less than doorstop lenders) and therefore loans are affordable.
Personal loans are exclusively available to residents of the AvenCentral area of Preston for such purposes as Christmas, decorating, furniture, electrical goods, carpets, school uniforms and debt consolidation.
Business and Housing loans are available to all residents of Preston. Finance can be arranged for both existing and start-up businesses.

For quick reference we also have a list of all of all AvenCentral Funded Projects.


			Thursday 23 October 2008