Mansfield BID has launched a new service to help businesses in the town centre who looking for funding opportunities.

The BID now has access to a new system that will allows it to search more than 8,000 continually updated funding opportunities, including grants, loans and awards.

Grantfinder is by far the largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type. The package has helped secure millions of pounds worth of support for businesses and organisations.

Working in real time with the ability to input precise searches, the BID can help look for a raft of funding and grant opportunities.

Whenever a new funding alert is updated, BID levy payers will be notified. Businesses can also let the BID know if there is a particular project or area of development that they would like a search running for.

BID manager Sarah Nelson said: “We are the first BID in the country to use this system and are very excited that we can offer this service.

“We look forward to working with people to access potential funding that generic internet searches just cannot provide.”

Katie Funk, whose performing arts business Funky Studios, is off Toothill Lane, believes this new service could be of real benefit to Mansfield and to individuals.

Her studios train people who want to go forward in the performing arts industry, with a range of courses available. But she is trying to set up a hardship fund to enable individuals with talent to go on courses, irrespective of their own financial issues.

She said: “Sometimes it is a tragedy that people have the talent but not the money to go on and fulfil their ambitions. The opportunity for us to help provide funding would be incredible and massive effect on us being able to offer more.”

For more information please contact the BID office by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] or by calling 01623 635675 or 01623 633939.