17.11.06
European investment to help transform Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly's economy
By 2013, Cornwall's economy will be transformed with
new businesses, better connections to the rest of the world
and a wide range of challenging and high paid jobs and will
be well on the way to becoming one of the leading 'green'
economies in Europe.
That is the exciting vision laid out at the start of a formal
consultation exercise to agree where the £270 million
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Convergence Programme will be
spent over the years between 2007 and 2013. The money will
come from the European Regional Development Fund.
A three month consultation period begins today (Friday 17
November) to discuss and agree Cornwall's collective
priorities for the Convergence programme. The South West RDA
is leading the consultation on behalf of partners and, following
the consultation, aims to submit the full programme for EU
approval in March 2007.
Jane Henderson, Chief Executive of the South West RDA said:
"Convergence is a massive opportunity for Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly, building as it does on the present
Objective One programme which is helping bring about so many
advances across the area.
"Convergence will be different. The emphasis will
be more on strategic long-term investments which will help
take Cornwall's economy into new areas, provide quality
high paid jobs and ensure its businesses and industries are
competitive on the world stage for years to come."
Cornwall County Council's Executive member for the
Economy, Andrew Mitchell (Lib Dem) added, "Convergence
will build on much of the progress made under Objective One
but there is widespread agreement already that the new programme
must fiercely prioritise and only tackle areas which could
have a transforming effect on the Cornish economy, ensuring
everyone in Cornwall sees and shares in the benefits, and
that they are both financially and environmentally sustainable."
"During the consultation we will also be working
with the RDA and other partners to agree delivery arrangements
for this Programme. We are looking to agree arrangements that
are Cornwall based and ensure we make the right investments
for Cornwall's long term prosperity and deliver better
jobs for future generations."
Following the 13 week consultation period, further preparations
would then take place during 2007 and the Convergence programme
itself is expected to start later in 2007.
The consultation builds on nearly two-years' work by partners
in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and very closely links
to Strategy and Action – the area's long-term
economic vision.
The consultation proposes targeting investments within four
main economic themes:
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Innovation and Research Development |
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Enterprise and Investment |
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Learning and Skills |
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Economic Infrastructure and Place-Based Regeneration |
For further information please contact Pip Hatt at the South
West Regional Development Agency on 01392 229567 or email
pip.hatt@southwestrda.org.uk.
Editor's notes:
| 1. |
The South West of England Regional Development Agency
was established by government in 1999 to promote the long-term
economic success of the region. It does this by working
with others to give people the skills they need, encouraging
enterprise, improving infrastructure, helping communities
with regeneration and promoting the strengths of the region. |
| 2. |
There is a separate consultation taking place to decide
spending priorities for the national European Social Fund
programme, of which about £120m is available for
Cornwall. Arrangements are being made to ensure this consultation
takes place in conjunction with the consultation announced
in this Notice. |
| 3. |
There is a similar consultation taking place in the
rest of the South West region for the Competitiveness
European Regional Development Fund programme. This offers
about £74m of support outside of Cornwall. |
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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