23/01/04 - £45,000 for Local Economic Initiatives

Today, Cumbria County Council’s South Lakeland Local Committee earmarked £20,000 towards economic initiatives being developed by the local councils and local businesses to support Kendal’s local economy.  £15,000 was earmarked to pump prime economic initiatives promoted through the two Market Town Initiative Partnership and £10,000 to progress the development of parish based projects.  County Councillor Ian Stewart, Chair of South Lakeland Local Committee says,

“The County Council is committed to economic development and regeneration.  I am therefore very pleased that South Lakeland Local Committee has chosen to make this commitment to economic development in the local community.

The funding commitment has been split between the Market Towns Initiative, Vital Villages project and £20,000 for economic initiatives in Kendal Town.  The funding has been split this way because of the major impact of recent job losses in Kendal.  A group of local businesses and support agencies have formed a partnership and have been meeting to develop a single plan to respond to the challenge this situation poses.  The £20,000 funding agreed today will support specific economic initiatives identified by the partnership.”

South Lakeland Local Committee’s Economic Initiatives fund has previously been used for small individual projects.