Coalfield communities get £20m for jobs
The housing minister has announced a £20 million fund to help the regeneration of former coalfield communities.
The cash from the Coalfields Growth Fund will be used to support small businesses with the aim of increasing the number of local jobs.
Mr Healey also announced that the £10 million Coalfields Enterprise Fund, which is designed to help local employers through the economic downturn, will be extended until 2014.
The two coalfields funds are expected to pull in up to £75 million of private investment over the next five years to support their aims.
Mr Healey said: ‘Entire communities were left devastated by the collapse of the coal industry 25 years ago. More recently, they have been dealt another blow by the global economic downturn.
‘Over the past decade the government has given coalfield areas over £500 million to help them recover. They must continue to get the support they need as they face this new challenge.’
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment