Breaking news: Growth fund backs Yorkshire bids

A PROJECT to kickstart growth in Bradford city centre is among the schemes to secure a share of £950m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced this morning that 23 bids from Yorkshire have secured funding which should together create more than 16,000 jobs in the region..

In all, the Government received more than 492 bids for cash from the second round of the Regional Growth Fund which was set up to encourage private sector growth in areas that have previously been heavily dependent on the public sector.

Mr Clegg said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this boost to business, which will jump start growth and create jobs that last in the places that really need it.

“This targeted support for businesses across the country allows them to expand and create jobs.

“It unlocks private sector investment – with at least £5 put in for every £1 of public money.

“People in the rest of Britain have been let down for far too long by governments in thrall to one Square Mile of it. 

“The first pot of Regional Growth Fund money is already making a difference across the country – helping to rebalance our economy so that every region and sector benefits.”

The Bradford project will focus on “incentivising investment in, and speeding up delivery of, Westfield Bradford and the Central Business District, complemented by wider public investment in city centre business rate relief.”

In all, 23 projects from Yorkshire secured backing. The organisations that will share the money are:

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