Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has welcomed today’s announcement that projects in Mid-Cornwall are receiving a large share of the £6m Coastal Communities Fund.
Across the country, sixteen successful 'Fast Track' projects are receiving a share of £6million Coastal Communities Fund money to help deliver sustainable growth and jobs.
Steve’s St Austell and Newquay constituency has seen two local groups pick up nearly £2m of funding between them.
Kneehigh Theatre Trust Ltd, St Austell, Cornwall
£803,236 grant towards a £1.295 million project to develop a ‘centre of excellence to provide training and development for a new generation of leaders and workers in the cultural and tourism sectors. It will also support two festivals of contemporary culture and the use of new technology to create new coastal digital experiences to attract visitors throughout the year.
St Austell Coastal Community Team – A green and Ceramic Cultural Centre, Cornwall
A £1,093,520 contribution towards a £1.29 million project to transform the St Austell area as a visitor destination. Funding will support a programme of public realm, cultural initiatives and events and skills training to attract more visitors and extend the tourist season.
Commenting, Steve said:
“This is really excellent news for both the St Austell Bay Economic Forum (SABEF) and the Kneehigh Theatre, who put in such excellent bids, making the case that has allowed the Government to release substantial funding for their transformative projects.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with all involved to see these great projects become reality with a positive impact on all those in their communities who use them.”
Commenting, Coastal Communities Minister, Jake Berry MP, said:
“It’s really exciting to see money from the Coastal Communities Fund help kick start these shovel ready projects, which have the potential to unlock the barriers to development and growth of our coastal communities.
“Investment in our seaside areas, through projects such as these, will provide nothing short of a New Deal for the Great British coast creating thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities along the shore.”
The Coastal Communities Fund was established to support coastal projects in the UK deliver sustainable growth and jobs.
Since 2012, the Coastal Communities Fund has awarded grants to 295 projects across the UK, totalling over £173 million1. This has so far helped to start almost 500 new businesses and create more than 7,000 jobs – with these figures set to more than double once the projects that are already underway are completed.
Applications submitted for Round 5 of the Coast Communities Fund are currently being assessed. The successful main round bids of the remaining £34million are expected to be announced by early 2019.