A GOVERNMENT cash boost of more than £52million has been announced today to help create jobs and promote growth in the West of England.
The funding, which was unveiled by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid today, will be distributed by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
The partnership brings together South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset with businesses, both large and small, to identify economic priorities and promote growth and job creation in the community.
Among the schemes already under consideration for funding are plans investigate ways to reduce the impact of traffic around Yate.
Decisions on how to spend the funding will be made by the LEP after further evaluation of each business project presented, with an assessment of the benefits it will bring to the area and the potential to stimulate innovation, create jobs, improve educational attainment, unlock homes or improve infrastructure.
The previous £230.7million growth deal funding is being matched by £180m of additional investment from local partners and the private sector to create at least 6,000 jobs
Communities secretary Sajid Javid said: “We are putting local people in control and backing them with the powers and resources they need to reach their potential.
“Today we’re investing an extra £52.8 million on top of the £230.7million we’ve already provided to local people -money which will create thousands of jobs, boost business and support growth right across the region.
Stephen Robertson, chairman of the West of England LEP said: “Through the previous growth deals we have already delivered projects including the completed Weston College Future Technology Centre and the University of England Robotics Centre, alongside many other exciting projects coming soon.
“We continue to focus on transport, innovations and skills, reducing barriers to growth and maximising shared investment opportunities.
“Having outperformed the expectations for job growth and match funding agreed with government, this £53 million growth deal funding provides the opportunity to enhance our programme of priorities, enabling us to work with our partners to achieve greater success in terms of increased productivity, jobs and economic growth.”
More details on the funding and how to apply can be found at www.westofenglandlep.co.uk
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