More than 160 projects across Wales are set to receive a share of £46m as part of the 海角视频 Government's levelling up strategy.
The Community Renewal Fund will pilot new programmes that invest in people, boost skills and support local business. The fund is a precursor to the yet to be defined Shared Prosperity Fund - a permanent replacement for EU structuring funding, but with a 海角视频-wide investment remit.
The Welsh Government, which was responsible for the distribution of EU funding, has no say, despite calls to have one, in the successor funds run by the 海角视频 Government.
The £200m Community Renewal Fund will support around 500 towns, villages and coastal communities across the 海角视频.
In last week's Budget Rishi Sunak 海角视频 Government announced £121m to back projects in Wales through the Levelling Up and Community Ownership funds.
The Welsh Government said the levelling up funding so far pledged for Wales still falls well short of the £375m promised this year, as it described the money as "levelling down."
The Community Renewal Fund backed projects in Wales
Projects in Wales include:
- £200,000 to support unemployed and disadvantaged people in Carmarthenshire to start their own business by investing in digital, employability and entrepreneurial skills. The programme will also fund a bootcamp for female entrepreneurs, creating a networking group for women in business.
- £45,900 to upgrade trails in the Dinas Mawddwy area of Gwynedd. A key part of improvements will make the trails more accessible to those with disabilities, helping to protect community networks and ensure the outdoors is open to all.
- £629,000 to support and fund manufacturers in Denbighshire to implement new or improved digital manufacturing strategies.
- £67,000 to deliver deaf awareness training and basic British Sign Language to customer facing staff at range of businesses and organisations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf.
- £61,000 to fund a full feasibility study to improve visitor access to Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire which will benefit local businesses and ensure the environment is protected while increasing tourism.
- £1m to establish a Creative Industry Training Programme (CITP) which will provide a collaborative way of working, supporting training and learning opportunities in venues across Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff.
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Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: . “The projects we are supporting today, from Wrexham to Caerphilly, will help communities across Wales realise their full potential, create new opportunities for the future and help us achieve net zero carbon emissions.”
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Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said “The 海角视频 Government is completely focused on levelling up our communities, boosting skills and increasing opportunity for people right across Wales.
“Funding for dozens of fantastic projects the length and breadth of Wales from digital skills in Conwy to small business support in Torfaen shows how we will unlock the potential of all our local areas.
“This comes just days after £120m for Welsh projects was announced at last week’s Budget and shows that we will provide investment where it’s needed and where it can make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Local authorities were invited to bid for funding from the Community Renewal Fund in May.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Throughout the Brexit debate, the 海角视频 Government gave repeated assurances Wales would not lose 'a single penny'of EU funding should the 海角视频 exit the EU.
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"Today’s announcement by the 海角视频 Government shows they are short-changing Wales by cutting the replacement funding we were promised. Instead of Wales receiving at least £375m annually in new money to invest from January this year, it confirms Wales will receive just £46m. This is not 'levelling up', it’s levelling down.
"The 海角视频 Government also promised devolved powers would be respected. The unconstitutional Internal Market Act undermines democratic devolution by stopping decisions about Wales being taken in Wales.
"It is yet another clear demonstration the people of Wales have been misled by the 海角视频 Government."