European funding of £134m to boost city’s economy
A TOTAL of £134m of cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has now been allocated to projects in Leeds City Region that boost business growth and create more and better jobs, according to latest figures.
The £134m – which equates to 86.5 per cent of the entire Leeds City Region ERDF pot – has been allocated or committed to projects that support firms to grow, become more efficient or increase productivity.
ERDF funding is part of the £308m European Structural and Investment Funds programme, which the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) launched in 2014. At the time, the LEP was the first local enterprise partnership in the country to launch its ESIF programme.
Projects part-funded through ERDF in the Leeds City Region include Export for Growth, which is aimed at companies wanting to develop their international business or get started with international trade, and the Stimulating Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector programme, which is designed to boost science-based innovation in the sector and increase small business investment in agri-food research.
Roger Marsh OBE, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership chair, said: “Investing in projects that deliver business growth is a core theme of the LEP and I’m delighted almost 90 per cent of Leeds City Region’s ERDF funding has already been committed to innovative and job-boosting projects.
“We’re looking forward to receiving more bids for projects that will create jobs, boost the success of local businesses.”