£10.9m of Shared Prosperity Fund grants awarded to 66 Powys projects

22 January 2024

Almost £11 million in Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up) grants has been awarded to 66 projects that will benefit Powys over the last 12 months.

Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Board has been reviewing and approving a range of bids since February 2023, following four open calls for applications.

It is responsible for deciding how the just over £26 million in SPF money allocated to Powys for 2022-25, by the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up programme, should be spent.

The objectives of Levelling Up are to:

• Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards
• Spread opportunities and improve public services
• Restores a sense of community, local pride and belonging
• Empower local leaders and communities
• Increase levels of functional numeracy in the adult population

The board had previously approved 32 projects, which have spent £7.76 million between them.

It also has more to announce from the open calls once funding bids for these have been signed.

All projects must be delivered by the end of this year, before the final programme report is submitted to the UK Government by the end of March 2025.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership Board is supported by Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team.

"The partnership has been looking at how we can best support the aims of Levelling Up by awarding grants under four key themes of Communities and Place, Supporting Local Business, People and Skills and Multiply (improving numeracy skills)," said Cllr David Selby, the council's Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board. "We have also been sharply focused on extracting the maximum value possible from this funding.

"I'm pleased that we have been able to make such excellent progress over the last 12 months by supporting 66 projects that will also help us achieve the council's goals of creating a stronger, fairer and greener Powys."

For more information on the UK SPF in Powys visit: UK Shared Prosperity Fund or email: ukspf@powys.gov.uk

The Powys SPF Local Partnership includes Powys County Council, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Powys Teaching Health Board, NPTC Group of Colleges, Business Wales, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership, Mid Wales Tourism, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, Wales YFC, NFU Cymru, Farmers' Union of Wales, Chambers Wales, and One Voice Wales.