Tomorrows Gala - how would you like it to look and what would you like it to offer?

For many of us, the Gala of tomorrow is an aspiration of a busy, vibrant town, which is a welcoming visitor destination, somewhere that supports local business success, and a place people want to call home.

This aspiration is within our reach, and the Tomorrows Gala initiative aims to take the first steps to achieving this by delivering a series of events, marketing initiatives and business development activities through 2019.

Working in partnership with Energise Galashiels Trust, the Tomorrow Gala initiative has taken aspects of the BIDs business plan (for more information on BIDs for Galashiels visit www.energisegalashiels.co.uk/BIDs ), which are considered most appropriate in terms of achieving the greatest impact in the short-term. The key aim is to improve the appearance and vitality of the town centre during 2019, making Gala town centre a welcoming visitor destination by 2020.

Key impact projects, which will complement the significant investment in the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre, and other town centre infrastructure projects being delivered by Scottish Borders Council, will include:

o Bringing more events to Galashiels (similar to Gala Goes Extreme)

o Developing a brand and web site to promote Galashiels as a visitor destination

o Improving the look and feel of the town centre

o Developing the visitor experience to the Great Tapestry of Scotland, and other local attractions.

Obviously, this plan requires funding. Working in conjunction with Scottish Borders Council, Energise Galashiels Trust have submitted an application to the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SOSEP) to support delivery of the action plan for 2019. If we are successful with this funding application, we anticipate having a similar amount of funding that the Gala BID would have provided for 2019. Following the BIDs business consultation, we know many of you agree that action needs to be taken in order to improve the town centre, so we would like to ask you to join us, however you feel you can, in delivering this plan.

We look forward to working with you on Tomorrows Gala.