Funding announced for seaside economies
Six seaside projects have received the first funding from the £24m Coastal Communities Fund. The fund was announced earlier this year to encourage work which could transform and diversify seaside economies.
Bournemouth Borough Council is the biggest winner in the first round funding, receiving £2m over two years to create a National Coastal Tourism Academy. The project should create 165 jobs in tourism in Bournemouth over three years and 2100 nation-wide. Other recipients include: Suffolk County Council which will get £762,000 to create 200 employer-led apprenticeships in coastal low carbon energy; Barrow-in-Furness which receives £900,000 for the Unleashing Growth in Coastal Furness which aims to create 275 full time jobs; and the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, a social enterprise which gets £150,000.
Further funding of £4m has been added to the total fund, announced Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury: “This first round of successful awards under the Coastal Communities Fund will directly support local communities to regenerate their local area,” he added. “The fund will enable councils, businesses, charities and social enterprises to create and protect jobs and training opportunities for thousands of people across the UK.”
Bidding will be open for the second round of funding later on in the year.