A total of 50 areas across the UK have successfully bid for a share of the £27.7m fund, which has been set up to help them to revive local economies and create jobs.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the funds would support nearly 4,000 new jobs and 1,000 apprenticeships.
‘This is even more important given the extreme weather and I’m very pleased we’re giving £17m of the fund to projects in areas hit by floods. Additionally, we have invested £5m from the fund’s reserve into the government’s programme for flood recovery.’
Among the winning areas is Southend, which receives £1.3m to help it diversify tourism, Colwyn Bay in Wales receives £100,000 for a new water sports centre and £270,000 has been given to the Kikeel Development Association in Northern Ireland for development of its first lobster hatchery.
Ministers also announced that the next wave of coastal community funding would be worth £64 and invited areas to bid for a share of the fund.
Bids for flood management schemes and projects to help communities repair and recover from the damage caused by this winter’s flooding are particularly encouraged and would be prioritised.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: ‘We want to help our seaside towns get back on their feet as soon as possible. Nearly three-quarters of these regeneration projects funded today are in flood-affected areas and our support will help these communities show they are “back in business”.
‘The next round of the Coastal Communities Fund is now open and we will be prioritising bids on coastal flood protection and repaid. The government is committed to supporting the regeneration of our seaside towns and part of that is taking decisive action to help communities and businesses affected by floods.’
Details of the 50 winning bids can be found here.
