Carmarthenshire County Council has been exploring how its Ten Towns programme has benefitted Llandovery.
The programme aims to support the county's rural market towns by helping them develop projects to bring economic benefit.
This month, the focus is on Llandovery, which has received funding from the council and the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Llandovery, which sits on the River Tywi and is near the Brecon Beacons National Park, is home to independent shops and food and drink businesses.
To enhance the town's visitor economy, several projects were supported by the Ten Towns programme.
These included improvements to the castle for better vantage point access, tourism interpretation boards designed by schoolchildren, branded canopies and accessible street furniture for Market Square, and a mural capturing the town's heritage and culture.
The final stage of this project will see a digital information screen installed at the main car park, providing visitors with information about amenities, businesses, and events.
The programme also supported the development of a new farmers' market, focusing on produce from within a 25-mile radius of the town.
The market, held on the first Saturday of each month, has been a success, boosting the town's footfall and providing trading space for more than 15 businesses.
Llandovery Farmers' Market manager, Raoul Bhambral, said: "The farmers' market has been a fantastic attraction for Llandovery and has been popular with locals and visitors from further afield.
"Customers, traders, and other local businesses have noticed an increased footfall in town, which is great."
The Ten Towns programme has also helped 18 businesses in Llandovery secure funding to enhance their premises.
Once the work is completed, the town is expected to be more welcoming for visitors.
The programme is supporting the redevelopment of three premises in the town, in a bid to reduce the number of vacant properties in Carmarthenshire.
Andrew Davies, who has received support to redevelop 23 Stone Street, said: "We are so pleased to have been able to gain support from the Ten Towns Capital Development Fund.
"The support received will enable us to redevelop 23 Stone Street into a barber and hairdressing shop in the town."
The town is also home to unique events and festivals, including the Heart of Wales Fringe Festival, which will take place on September 28, 2024.
This event commissioned local and national writers to create performance art inspired by Llandovery's past, present, and future.
The town recently hosted its famous Sheep Festival, which celebrates sheep farming and the wool industry, as well as showcasing crafts, produce, and performance artists.
The festival, which took place on September 14 and 15, attracted tourists from across the county.
Cllr Carys Jones, Carmarthenshire County Council’s cabinet member for rural affairs, community cohesion, and planning policy, said: "The Llandovery Sheep Festival is one example of how successful events in the area bring the community together and help support local Carmarthenshire businesses and organisations.
"Unique events such as this are what make Carmarthenshire great, pulling in visitors from across Wales to experience all our county has to offer."
Llandovery Rugby Club and the Welsh Rugby Union have also received funding to improve the sports pitch, making it suitable for all weather with LED floodlighting and spectator viewing.
A young optometrist has also received support from the council to develop a new service that could operate bilingually to support the community.
Sarah Tidey from Golwg Gofal Ltd, who received support from the Arfor Programme to create a new business and support new jobs, said: "The support received from Carmarthenshire County Council has benefitted me greatly as I embarked on starting a new business in Llandovery.
"It has enabled me to open a new business that provides a bilingual service to the local community, as well as creating jobs in the local area."
The Ten Towns programme is part of the council's efforts to support the development of the 10 main towns in Carmarthenshire, allowing the creation of new businesses and jobs in the area.
The council is dedicated to decreasing the number of vacant properties across Carmarthenshire, and the redevelopment of premises in Llandovery is part of this initiative.
For more information about the Ten Towns project, visit the council's website.
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