SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed extra public investment in Wrexham and Flintshire.
The two multi-million pound grant schemes have been launched in Wrexham and Flintshire to kick-start an exciting new era for advanced manufacturing in the region.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Finance and a keen supporter of encouraging more investment in North-East Wales, said he was delighted with the news.
He said: “I really do welcome the progress that’s so far taken place with the investment zone in North-East Wales and I am delighted to see these new grants targeting manufacturing firms in Wrexham and Flintshire.
“We all know about the success of the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, it is great to be able to build on that and it is an extremely positive step for the area.
“I am especially pleased to see this development as I was involved in coordinating some cross party support to get both the former UK Conservative and Welsh Labour Governments to set up this investment zone.
“I have also often spoken in the Senedd about the endless opportunities for investment in North-East Wales because of our close proximity to the North West and links to Ireland and Europe and it is good to see ideas coming to fruition.”
The new grant schemes will be aimed at small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are the first to be launched under the new Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone.
They are part of the new Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, which is being backed by both the UK and Welsh governments, and co-ordinated by Ambition North Wales.
Both the Flintshire County Council and the Wrexham Council schemes will offer grants from £5k up to £100k, at least 30% match funded by each company, to local manufacturing firms in their local authority area.
Businesses have been able to apply since Monday (February 2) and together, the schemes will allocate £6m in grants over the next three years.
Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council and Chair of Ambition North Wales, said: “The advanced manufacturing sector is crucial to our economy, and a lot of world-class manufacturers are already based here.
“We now need to build on this and show that we’re a true powerhouse for advanced industry in Wales, and I hope that local firms take advantage of these grants. This is a golden opportunity for the sector.”
Councillor Dave Hughes, Leader of Flintshire County Council, said: “The Investment Zone is a hugely positive step for Flintshire and Wrexham, and will give us a platform to attract new investment to the region – helping to create jobs and inspire the next generation of businesses leaders and skilled workers.
“The launch of these grants shows the kind of opportunities the Investment Zone will bring, and I hope as many local businesses as possible will apply.”
SMEs are defined as businesses with fewer than 250 employees and while the region is home to a number of major global companies, SMEs account for 97.4% of all businesses in both Flintshire and Wrexham.
As a result, SMEs are seen as crucial to the growth of the advanced manufacturing sector in North-East Wales.
For more information on the Wrexham scheme, visit the Wrexham Council website.
For more information on the Flintshire scheme, visit the Flintshire County Council website.
