Community money is the Place To Be

The cash will boost the towns' bid for city status and will be used by businesses for events to celebrate the year 2000. About 100 projects will be supported during the year and local groups are being invited to apply for grants. The money, which was contributed by businesses, will fund a huge range of schemes from arts projects to helping groups buy vital equipment.

Simon Fanshawe, chairman of The Place to Be, which will be allocating grants and is leading the town's campaign to become a city, said: "It's another hundred ways for people to get involved in The Place To Be. It's not just about the town centre, it's about everyone having a chance to celebrate the town in whatever way they want. It's a real opportunity for people to come up with ideas which say something about the town and its people. It could be an arts or community project or anything demonstrating what's good about your neighbourhood."

Grants will range from £250 to £500. Some of the money, donated by BUPA International, will go towards events with a health or environment theme. To qualify, an organisation must have its own bank account. There are three deadlines for applications to be submitted: March 21, June 30 and September 29.

The Place To Be office also has a supply of balloons, banners and posters to help advertise events and projects will also be publicised throughout the year. Businesses, the council and the Millennium Festival Fund have already ploughed more than £345,000 into the Place To Be campaign to promote the town, stage millennium events and convince the Queen the towns should be named as a millennium city.

Brighton and Hove are competing with other towns throughout the country for the status. The winner will be announced later this year.

To apply for a grant, contact the Place To Be office on 01273 292556.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.