When good things come in threes!..
THREE projects to boost businesses, skills, job creation and regeneration in Staffordshire have had bids approved for a share of a Uk-wide fund.
The county has been awarded £1.5 million from the UK Community Renewal Fund for three separate initiatives led by Staffordshire County Council, Newcastleunder-lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire University.
The county council’s Staffordshire Means Back to Business project received £751,560 and the borough council’s Carbon Reduction and Sustainable Energy Creation Programme secured £219,300, while the university’s Innovation and Productivity Pathfinder successfully bid for £538,385.
The UK Community Renewal Fund aims to support and invest in communities across the country through innovative pilot programmes. In total, £200 million has been made available by the Government for this financial year. Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “It is fantastic news that we have had three county projects approved by the Government to receive a share of the UK Community Renewal Fund, including our own Staffordshire Means Back to Business programme. We know they will make a difference to our communities and businesses.
“We received strong project applications and needed to prioritise a selection to go forward for consideration by the Government, which has recognised their quality and ability to get started straight away.
“The fund is supporting one of our top priorities as a county council to reinvigorate our communities and businesses through investment, skills development, job creation and regeneration.”