£16.9m Shared Prosperity Fund cash approved for North Yorkshire
Businesses, community groups, cultural and voluntary sector organisations in North Yorkshire are being invited to apply for a share of a £16.9m fund.
It is intended to address challenges such as the future of the region’s high streets, building a green economy and addressing the cost of living crisis.
The UK Government has approved the £16.9m North Yorkshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan and has allocated a further £5.4m, subject to approval, through the Rural England Prosperity Fund to support economic and social development in North Yorkshire until March 2025.
North Yorkshire County Council is now inviting expressions of interest from organisations seeking to deliver projects that address issues and priorities identified in the investment plan.
The fund covers a range of activities and investments and is available to almost all formally constituted organisations and businesses for projects ranging from small community-based initiatives to larger capital projects.
The county council, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the county’s seven district and borough councils have worked on the project, which from April 1 will be administered by the new North Yorkshire Council, which will replace the eight current councils.
A Local Partnership Group has brought together local, regional and national organisations to develop the investment plan and oversee the delivery of the fund.
Council leader, Councillor Carl Les, said: “Communities across our county face diverse challenges, and each also presents its unique opportunities.
“This funding application invitation offers a chance for local organisations who understand and live with the challenges facing their towns and villages to come forward with solutions.
“We want to see this fund used to maximum effect to enable communities to build the foundations for their own economic development, to help businesses to thrive and to reduce the barriers people of any age might face in entering and progressing in work or education.”
The North Yorkshire funding will be delivered against five themes designed to tackle problems and priorities identified across the county. These are: addressing rurality and inequality; building pride in places; boosting productivity; decarbonising communities and businesses; and supporting an active labour market.
Eligible organisations can submit expressions of interest at any time, but in accordance with the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund programme, most of North Yorkshire’s funding (almost £15m in total) will be available in the 2024/25 financial year.
