Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
The Local Growth Fund (LGF) comprises nearly £12 million allocated for everyday expenses and an additional £27.4 million designated for infrastructure and capital initiatives. This latter sum is being distributed through various Stormont departments, with the Department for the Economy receiving the largest share of £13 million.
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald explained that these funds are intended to support projects focused on innovation, business development, and social enterprises. A significant portion, £7.1 million, is earmarked for Invest NI to assist businesses with innovation-related projects and to carry out preliminary design for the Mandeville industrial estate located in Craigavon.
Additional funding allocations include £7 million to the Department for Communities for efforts such as town centre renewal and revitalizing vacant properties. The Department of Agriculture is set to receive £3.8 million to promote innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the Department for Infrastructure is allocated £3.2 million to invest in improvements to transport and connectivity.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd emphasized that while the funding would yield “tangible benefits,” he criticized how the British government managed the fund, describing the situation as “far from ideal.” He expressed his intention to persist in advocating for future funding decisions to be made by locally elected ministers rather than Westminster. East Londonderry assembly member Claire Sugden acknowledged the importance of the capital investment but warned that it does not compensate for the loss of funding experienced by community organizations. She pointed out, “Resource funding pays the staff who support vulnerable people, run employability programmes, tackle isolation and help families through difficult circumstances,” adding that without such support, “services may be reduced, experienced staff could be lost and people will have fewer places to turn for help.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.