Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has welcomed news that 31 projects in Conwy are set to benefit from a share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
UKSPF forms a major element of the replacement for the former EU Structural Funds and will support the UK Government’s wider commitment to level up all parts of the UK by delivering on each of the levelling up objectives:
· Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards, especially in those places where they are lagging.
· Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest.
· Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost.
· Empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency.
Conwy was awarded an allocation of over £20m to invest and spend by March 2025.
The overarching objective of the Fund is to build pride in place and increase life chances and the UKSPF aims to achieve this through three investment priorities:
• Community & Place;
• Supporting Local Business; and,
• People & Skills
Welcoming the investment to the area, Darren said:
“This is fantastic news for communities in Conwy and is a huge cause for celebration for the 31 projects set to benefit.
“All places have their challenges, with affluence and deprivation often coexisting, and the UKSPF was introduced to help tackle this and level up the country.
“UKSPF is a predictable, long-term funding stream which local leaders are free to use as they see fit to unleash their unique potential. They can focus on what works best for their communities, including in new and innovative combinations, unshackled by previous EU restrictions.
“The £20m for Conwy will empower our local communities that I am confident it will make a real difference on the ground and change lives.”
The successful projects include initiatives that: promote adult numeracy; enhance the employability of people with a sensory loss; support volunteering; physical wellbeing, and improve community facilities.
All projects will need to be fully completed and claimed by 31st December 2024 at the latest.
More information about the successful projects and UKSPF can be found on Conwy County Council’s website at: https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Business/Regeneration/European-and-External-Funding/Shared-Prosperity-Fund-North-Wales.aspx
