Blackpool secures funding for business and employment support programmes

Blackpool Council’s £5.1m bid for funding for a range of investment and support programmes has been approved after the review of a detailed investment plan.

Business support, intensive employment support, eco-coaching, flood protection, and community cultural art projects are all part of a successful application to the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Bids needed to show the funded activities would build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK.

Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The Shared Prosperity Fund is a welcome boost but it was a challenging exercise to decide which projects to put forward for approval. We want to make the biggest impact possible with the funding that has been allocated to us.

“We have ensured that the investment plan ties in with our existing strategies so we can enhance projects and initiatives that are already under way.”

13 capital and revenue project proposals were agreed under the themes of people and skills, supporting local businesses and community and place.

It followed an evaluation process which included input from the public, private and voluntary sectors through the Town Deal Board and its Town Deal Investment Panel.

£2.9m will be allocated to community and place, £1.2m to business support schemes, and £0.8m funding work with young and disadvantaged people.

The projects will be administered by the council and some delivered through a variety of external organisations through commissioning arrangements.

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