Organisations that support skills, business, communities and employment in Wrexham are being urged to look at the UK Community Renewal Fund.
The new fund has been set up as an alternative source of funding for local communities, as EU Structural Funding will end in 2023.
The pot will provide £220 million of investment across the UK and is seen as a pilot project to prepare areas for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund next year.
Funding is allocated via a bidding process and is capped at £3 million per place.
Wrexham Council is now issuing a call for applications from both organisations and council services looking to deliver activity within the county.
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Eligibility
Projects must be in line with the Renewal Fund prospectus, must end in March 2022, and must align with at least one of the following investment priorities:
- Investment in skills.
- Investment for local business.
- Investment in communities and place.
- Supporting people into employment.
The UK Government anticipates supporting a range of projects of various size and scale, but applicants are encouraged to maximise impact through larger projects (£500,000+).
The council has been designated as a Lead Authority by the UK Government and will be responsible for receiving bids, and selecting those that will be forwarded to the UK Government for consideration.
The council will also pay grants to the successful projects and manage their performance.
Key opportunity for Wrexham
Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, said: “The past 12 months have been incredibly tough, and this is a key opportunity to tap into UK government funding.
“If your organisation is looking to deliver activities that will benefit Wrexham, please take a close look at the UK Community Renewal Fund. And if you think your proposals meet the criteria, please make an application.
“This initiative could make a real difference to Wrexham, and we need to grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Apply now
The application process will be live from Monday, May 10 until noon on Friday, May 28.
The council will then shortlist projects and carry out due diligence, before the final list of proposals is compiled to submit to the UK Government by June 18 (2021).
To apply and learn more about the project, take a look at the council website.
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