Dundee City Council has been awarded £5.6 million as part of the UK Government’s levelling up agenda.
The cash will go towards a range of projects including those designed to improve employment opportunities for local people and boost numeracy skills.
It is being issued under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) set up to replace EU financial support after Brexit.
The cash will be funnelled to the city from now until 2025.
The council was required to put in an application for the cash detailing what it would be used for.
The main areas will be:
- Regeneration and town centre improvements
- Support for sport, arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities
- Promoting tourism
- Support for small and medium-sized enterprises
- Employment support for “economically inactive people”
- Providing courses and skills for young people
- Improving adult numeracy such as courses aimed at people who can’t apply for certain jobs because of lack of numeracy skills
City development convener Councillor Mark Flynn said: “Over the next three years, this funding will be invested in projects which support local businesses to grow and thrive, and which will also enable local partners across the city to share knowledge, expertise and resources.
“We will target the funding where it is needed most: building pride in place, supporting high-quality skills training, and delivering employment and productivity growth.”
Local groups will also be able to apply for a share of the cash through the council’s website until 5pm on December 5.
Bids are open to community groups, public sector bodies, charities, community interest companies, academia, training providers, and private firms.
Where is the cash coming from?
The UKSPF is providing £2.6 billion of cash to councils across the UK as part of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s levelling up plan.
The strategy was a key part of the Conservatives’ 2019 winning election campaign.
Although part of the same strategy, the UKSPF is separate to the Levelling-Up Fund, which sparked controversy earlier this year in Dundee.
The SNP administration was accused of failing to put in a bid because it was reluctant to accept Westminster cash.
Council chiefs denied this and pledged to ask for the “maximum” in future rounds.
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