Business and community groups across Coastal West Sussex are being urged to bid for multi-million pound funding to transform the UK’s coastal communities. 
The latest round of funding from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund opened yesterday (February 26, 2018) with £40 million available.
By focusing on targeted investment in jobs and skills, 500 new businesses supporting 5,500+ plus jobs have been created through the grants programme.
Coastal West Sussex leaders are urging groups to look at the criteria with funding going to projects over £50,000 that will ultimately lead to regeneration and economic growth whilst directly or indirectly safeguarding and creating sustainable jobs.
Among those benefit in the past, include:
- Start Station, Bognor Regis Railway Station
£40,000 towards creating a digital and creative hub for new digital start-up businesses in the historic Bognor Regis railway station; - Bognor Regis Heritage Quarter
£1.65 million towards showcasing the town’s key heritage assets and transform it into a high-quality destination. Projects included breathing new life into the historic pier, associated buildings and premises with the aim of reviving the old town as a stylish restaurant quarter; - Shoreham Fort
£50,000 towards a feasibility analysis to showcase the potential of Shoreham Fort as a vibrant and effective visitor attraction. This could lead to the project becoming viable for more diverse uses including becoming a significant local tourist attraction. - Littlehampton riverbank
£573,000 towards public realm enhancements in the riverbank area of Littlehampton; creating a sense of destination and establishing improved links between the town centre, seafront and riverside. - Creative hub in Worthing
£265,000 towards turning Colonnade House into a creative hub, providing affordable workspace for the creative community and a focus for business support.
Coastal Communities Minister Jake Berry, said: “I’m delighted to announce that applications are now open for the next round of the Coastal Communities Fund.
“Coastal Communities up and down the country from Barrow-in-Furness to Brighton have been boosted by this funding which has spurred inward investment, sustainable growth, new jobs and exciting economic opportunities for local businesses.
“By 2020, we’ll have invested nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in our seaside areas, providing thousands of jobs, training places and opportunities along the Great British Coast.
The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) supports the economic transformation of UK coastal communities by giving funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.
Since 2012, the government’s CCF has awarded grants to 295 projects across the UK, totalling over £174 million. Analysis shows this has been money well spent, with every £1 invested having the potential to create an up to £8 boost to our coastal economies.
Prospective applicants for round 5 of the Coastal Communities Fund can access the full guidance to submitting their application on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coastal-communities-fund-round-5
Funding for round 5 will cover the period 2019-20 to 2020-21 with funds becoming available from April 2019.
We are also looking to fund a small number of revenue projects which are ‘ready to go’ and can be fast tracked. Successful fast-track projects will be announced in summer 2018 and we will expect them to be able to start quickly.
If you would like further information or to register your interest, please email coastalcommunities@communities.gsi.gov.uk or call 030 3444 0000.