Since July 2020, the Council has supported 900 businesses and 2,350 residents with its Economic Recovery Plan worth over 3 million pounds.

The Council’s multi-million-pound package has revamped high streets, helped businesses and entrepreneurs recover from COVID and supported the green business agenda, in addition to the Council distributing over £74 million worth of grants to local businesses.

Other highlights from the Plan include:

• Extending the Council’s partnership with the Love Local Hub in centre:MK to provide support to 100 female entrepreneurs – the Hub has already made over £340,000 worth of sales.
• A Council partnership with MK ACT, a charity that helps people escape domestic violence, to support 100 women regain economic independence.
• Worked with local high streets on using their Welcome Back Funds, helping with projects such as lighting column painting and landscaping in Newport Pagnell, tidying works on Bletchley High Street and cleansing and re-painting activities in Stony Stratford and Wolverton.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Robin Bradburn, Cabinet Member for Economy, Recovery and Renewal, said: “Milton Keynes has a vibrant, strong and prosperous business community that the Council will do all it can to support. I am proud that our ground-breaking Economic Recovery Plan has played a part in strengthening the local economy by giving back to our brilliant local businesses.” 

Labour Councillor Moriah Priestley, who represents CMK Ward, added: “The past two years have been incredibly hard for businesses, the Council’s Economic Recovery Plan will have acted as a lifeline to some. The support package has been an asset to CMK, which is home to countless small businesses, and I look forward to seeing these businesses flourish.”