Businesses and communities across the Great British Coast, including in Morecambe and Lunesdale could be sailing towards a cash windfall.
Creative coastal entrepreneurs can from today bid for a share of £90 million government funding available UK-wide over the next 4 years to support their plans to reel in jobs and revitalise our much-loved seaside areas.
This latest cash boost for coastal communities is all part of the government’s efforts to rebalance the economy and help all areas of the country thrive.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said:
Our Great British Coast has enormous economic potential and we are determined to see it thrive all year round.
That’s why today we’re investing £90 million in exciting new business ideas across our much-loved seaside areas – bringing not just a wave of enthusiasm but also creating thousands of good new jobs too.
And with grants of up to £4 million each available, I’d urge our coastal entrepreneurs and communities to get involved.
Communities Minister Mark Francois said:
Over the past few years we’ve seen a sea-change in investment across our Great British Coast – with today’s £90 million building on the £120 million we’ve already pumped in.
This money is all about generating jobs and boosting businesses, so if you’ve got a good idea we want to hear from you.
We’re rightly proud of our country’s seaside past but this new money means that we can also look forward to its bright future.
David Morris MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale said:
'I am delighted that our entrepreneurs are being given the opportunity to flourish by being given the opportunity to apply for extra funding. I am delighted that this Government remains committed to Coastal Communities by announcing a new tranche of funding and they Government continues to recognise the unique barriers that can be there in a coastal area.
If you are an entrepreneur with an idea or business that creates jobs in the area please make sure you apply to the fund so we ensure a large share of the funding is allocated here in Morecambe and Lunesdale.'
Buoyed up business
Since 2012, the government has invested over £120 million in seaside areas through a dedicated Coastal Communities Fund.
From Bognor Regis to Bute and from Redcar to Rhyl, more than 200 businesses and regeneration projects have benefitted. These projects – everything from resurrecting railway lines to starting up sailing centres – are predicted to safeguard or create up to 18,000 new jobs.
And analysis has shown this has been money well spent with every £1 invested having the potential to create an up to £8 boost to our coastal economies.
Now a further £90 million is available over the next 4 years to help boost tourism, create jobs and provide quality training for local people.
Grants of between £50,000 and £4 million are available to a range of organisations including:
· coastal community teams
· charities
· councils
· development agencies
· local enterprise partnerships
· private sector companies
· social enterprises
· voluntary and community sector organisations
Bids for the latest round in England will close on 30 June 2016.