Banff and Macduff fighting back from economic impact of Covid
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THE twin towns of Banff and Macduff are fighting back stronger as they recover from the economic impact of Covid.
A number of initiatives have been delivered so far thanks to a £20,000 injection from Aberdeenshire Council’s Phoenix Fund.
Volunteers from a steering group comprising Banffshire Business Forum, the Rotary Club of Banff and local community councillors, worked alongside a number of suppliers to deliver the project.
A new website and app were created and launched to provide residents and visitors with a wealth of information about Banff and Macduff.
Love Banff and Macduff offers people exclusive deals and access to local events calendars and news, as well as local business and community group directory listings, and local tourist information.
Businesses and community groups were invited to list on the app for free, with the aim of providing a one stop shop for everything related to living in and visiting Banff and Macduff. They are now able to utilise the tool as a real time communication channel.
Other businesses and groups can still join the long-term initiative.
The digital project was led by Vivien Rae of Macduff based Evoke Marketing, who worked alongside Scottish based app developers Our Community Hub to deliver the new online resources.
Rachel Kennedy from the Banff and Macduff Phoenix Fund project steering group, said: “The Love Banff and Macduff app and website are invaluable resources for local residents and visitors alike, by encouraging local shopping, promoting local activities and events, and providing up to date information and inspiration for tourists who are visiting our area.
"The wealth of information collated in one central hub makes it easily accessible to everyone, and brings many benefits for our local businesses and communities.”
The Phoenix Fund project also supported the provision of posters and vinyl banners to promote the Fiver Fest campaign locally in June, when local independent businesses offered short term £5 deals to entice existing and new customers. A large number of local businesses took part in the campaign, reporting a positive increase in footfall and sales across the two-week duration.
A further element of the project saw the creation and installation of six mini murals across the two towns. Created by a host of local artists who took inspiration from the area’s coastal location and rich culture and heritage, the completed murals have been installed to attract locals and visitors to the town centres and brighten formerly unoccupied central spaces.
The mini mural project was led by local artist Bryan Angus, and the final artworks were installed by volunteers from Banff and Macduff Men’s Shed.
Additionally, a number of high visual vinyl graphics were created and applied to windows of disused shop buildings by Banff based CKM Designs, in a further effort to enhance the town centres.
Local photographers provided stunning imagery depicting some of the many beautiful locations nearby, to provide a focal point for passers-by, and give inspiration of nearby landmarks and places of interest worth visiting.
Lynn MacKinnon, who has coordinated efforts as part of the project steering group, added: “The funding that we received has enabled us to deliver a number of positive and impactful resources and fantastic focal points for Banff and Macduff.
"This directly supports existing businesses, and we hope the efforts will also encourage new businesses to establish themselves locally, to further enhance the area’s appeal and economic sustainability.
"This project has required significant input and hard work, and thanks must go to everyone who has been involved. We all hope these efforts will support our community to overcome the detrimental effects Covid has had, and to encourage a positive future for our local area, as there really is a lot to love about Banff and Macduff.”
For more information about the project visit www.lovebanffandmacduff.com or Facebook page /lovebanffandmacduff
