More than 160 projects across Wales will receive a share of more
than £46m to help people into work, boost productivity and
deliver net zero.
The Community Renewal Fund will pilot new programmes that invest
in people, boost skills and support local business – to build
more communities that people are proud to call home.
The Fund is supporting around 500 towns, villages and coastal
communities across the whole United Kingdom to ensure that no
place is left behind as the UK Government delivers on
its commitment to level up the country.
Many of the successful projects are also supporting UK’s path to
net zero carbon emissions, giving businesses creating clean
technology a boost and ensuring that jobs are future proof. For
example, £127,000 will encourage sustainable and inclusive
transport solutions in South Wales, helping to reduce car use and
address air pollution.
Other projects being funded include:
- £200,000 to support unemployed and disadvantaged people in
Carmarthenshire to start their own business by investing in
digital, employability and entrepreneurial skills. The programme
will also fund a bootcamp for female entrepreneurs, creating a
networking group for women in business.
- £45,900 to upgrade trails in the Dinas Mawddwy area of
Gwynedd. A key part of improvements will make the trails more
accessible to those with disabilities, helping to protect
community networks and ensure the outdoors is open to all.
- £629,000 to support and fund manufacturers in Denbighshire to
implement new or improved digital manufacturing strategies.
- £67,000 to deliver deaf awareness training and basic British
Sign Language to customer facing staff at range of businesses and
organisations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf.
- £61,000 to fund a full feasibility study to improve visitor
access to Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire which will benefit
local businesses and ensure the environment is protected while
increasing tourism.
- £1 million to establish a Creative Industry Training
Programme (CITP) which will provide a collaborative way of
working, supporting training and learning opportunities in venues
across Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up said:
We are determined to unite and level up our whole United Kingdom.
The projects we are supporting today, from Wrexham to Caerphilly,
will help communities across Wales realise their full potential,
create new opportunities for the future and help us achieve net
zero carbon emissions.
Secretary of State for Wales said:
The UK Government is completely focused on levelling up our
communities, boosting skills and increasing opportunity for
people right across Wales.
Funding for dozens of fantastic projects the length and breadth
of Wales from digital skills in Conwy to small business support
in Torfaen shows how we will unlock the potential of all our
local areas.
This comes just days after £120m for Welsh projects was announced
at last week’s Budget and shows that we will provide investment
where it’s needed and where it can make a real difference to
people’s lives.
Local authorities were invited to bid for funding from the
Community Renewal Fund in May.
The £200 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund
will help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund in 2022, the scheme that will see UK-wide funding
at least match EU money, reaching around £1.5 billion a year.
In last week’s Budget, the UK Government announced investment of
more than £121 million directly into communities in
Wales, through the Levelling Up and Community Ownership
funds, for big regeneration projects and smaller community
initiatives.
Further Information is
available on all three funds - the Community Renewal Fund,
the Community Ownership Fund and the Levelling Up Fund, including
the full lists of successful bids.
The published
methodology used to identify places in need of funding is
also available.
Investment from EU Structural Funds will continue to be spent by
local areas until 2023 and the Government has committed to at
least matching EU receipts through the new UK Shared Prosperity
Fund, on average reaching around £1.5 billion a year.
This new Fund, to be launched in 2022, will operate throughout
the UK and play a part in uniting and levelling up the whole UK.
