Partner Article

New funding for Wearside

Ambitious plans for business creation in Sunderland have been boosted by a new £1.78m funding package.

Sunderland City Council is launching the package of pre start-up support to develop enterprise, work with 800 clients and help at least 300 people with business ideas.

The aim is to ensure that 200 potential entrepreneurs establish themselves by progressing into mainstream services such as Business Link.

The project is being part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £890,000 ERDF investment through regional development agency One North East.

The council is matching this with its own contribution from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which is branded locally as ‘Just the Job’.

Cllr Bryan Charlton, Prosperous City Portfolio Holder for Sunderland City Council, said: “This grant will significantly boost our drive to create more enterprise in the city,” he said.

“As a member of the programme’s regional monitoring committee, I know how important ERDF is to the regeneration of the whole region. I will be taking a close interest in the impact of this initiative throughout Sunderland.”

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