Member Article

Council bid to secure regeneration funds

An ambitious bid to create thousands of new jobs in some of the most deprived parts of Newcastle has been launched.

The city council and its partners submitted the bid to the Government last week for up to £20 million, which could create up to 2,750 small businesses. The Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) is a Government project designed to encourage trade and enterprise in and around areas in need of regeneration.

If successful in its bid, Newcastle could receive the windfall over three years to boost trade in the Inner West (Elswick, Arthur’s Hill, Scotswood); the Outer East (Byker, Walker) and the North and Outer West (Cowgate, Blakelaw and Newbiggin Hall).

Councillor John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “Newcastle has enjoyed tremendous economic growth over the past few years but as a city we still have widespread deprivation in some areas, particularly in the east and the west ends. “We have a duty to help people in all parts of the city to be successful so we have put together this bid which will help create a culture of enterprise where previously there was little or none.”

Aims of the city’s LEGI proposals include creating a trading culture in target areas, providing tools for business sustainability and growth, and making Newcastle a good place to do business by improving perceptions about target areas.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .