Double funding success will boost Turriff's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic
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Turriff Business Association have been successful in securing significant funding to revitalise the town in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The group recently learned of their success in securing £10,000 each from Aberdeenshire Council Town Centres Phoenix Fund and Scottish Towns Partnership's Town And Business Improvement Districts' Resilience And Recovery Fund.
Further funding avenues are being investigated and they hope to be able to increase the benefit to the town in the coming months.
An action plan outlining how the money will be spent looks at various ways to boost the town, including supporting businesses with sourcing appropriate PPE, filling vacant business properties, incentives to encourage people to shop locally and redevelopment of community toilet facilities.
They have also looked at how they could utilise public events when it is safe to do so, finding out what other support Turriff's businesses feel like they need and sourcing ways to aid with this and they have laid out a detailed marketing plan to help bring Turriff to the forefront of people's minds.
This marketing plan includes short videos giving people an insight into various businesses, a digital screen at Coo Corner highlighting community events and local business special offers and the launch of The Only Way Is Turriff.
Attention will be brought back to some of the town centre's vacant business premises with the use of window vinyls.
These vinyls will be a combination of promotional materials - highlighting businesses outwith the town centre, various groups in Turriff that people can get involved with and some of the activities on offer in and around Turriff for residents and visitors alike - and depictions of how that shop front could be used in the hope of enticing inspiring entrepreneurs to bring their dreams to life in Turriff
Turriff Business Association have enlisted the help of two Turriff residents to help with their marketing campaign.
RGU student Megan Thores has been hired as a marketing intern following support from Aberdeenshire Council, and she has already made her mark with exciting ideas and leading the way with upcoming The Only Way Is Turriff campaign while fellow former Turriff Academy pupil Elliot Bruce has been capturing drone footage of different areas which will be used as part of the campaign.
The Association are delighted to have both of them involved and have been impressed with their contributions so far.
They have also had the support of two local businesses (so far) in bringing their marketing campaigns to life - Turriff Printers have been working with Megan to finalise designs and Peters will be printing vinyls.
Turriff Business Association chairman Marj Chalmers said: "Even though it is the Business Association who applied for the funding, it isn't for us.
"This will benefit all of Turriff, and it is really important to us to show everything that Turriff has to offer."
While some aspects of the action plan are reliant on further easing of lockdown restrictions, some aspects of the plan have already been set into motion.
Amongst the plans which will have to wait a bit longer to be brought to fruition are the plans to refurbish the toilets and plans to organise events, although a virtual event is a possibility if there is no movement on larger gatherings.
Residents and visitors could expect other aspects of the plan being brought to life in a matter of weeks, with hopes that shop local incentives will be established before the peak Christmas shopping period.
Turriff is taking part in the Scotland Loves Local scheme which is encouraging people to think local when doing their shopping, and you can share your favourite local purchases on social media using #ScotlandLovesLocal.
