GOVERNMENT support to make the Humber the "UK's Energy Estuary" has emerged from the £30-million Regional Growth Fund launch.
As reported yesterday, Business Minister Michael Fallon described Grimsby as the gateway for the wind-farm revolution that should create between 200 and 500 jobs in the short term, with hundreds more likely as the later rounds of offshore development are realised.
Mr Fallon, who oversees the RGF funding across Britain, spelled out the importance of the Humber, and the backing it will get, quoting Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chairman Lord Haskins' vision.
He said: "There is a real focus here now on unlocking growth potential as the 'UK's Energy Estuary', and that includes, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a new offshore renewable energy industry right across the Humber. We want to support the Humber to deliver on that ambition. We have already announced two enterprise zones to help support for the new renewable energy cluster, and we are investing £87 million in the Growing Places Fund and Regional Growth Fund.
"We have facilitated a further £30-million investment to the area and I know colleagues will use this to generate even more investment and growth. £10 million will help support growth of an offshore wind and renewable energy supply chain on the South Bank."
Enterprise zones include the huge Able Marine Energy Park proposal at North Killingholme, as well as sections of Grimsby Docks.
Mr Fallon added: "The reason this is so important is that it is not central Government controlling it. It is the local partnerships themselves that better understand the challenges there are to growing the local economy here.
"This marks our recognition that the LEP in the Humber is best placed to identify these challenges, the barriers to growth, and how we work to see them tackled.
"There are 39 LEPs I deal with and take responsibility for, and Humber is well up that league table in preparedness and readiness to take responsibility and shape its future.
"I am confident the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership can do a huge amount for the local economy with this cash."
Referring to the work already done with the funds handed down to North Lincolnshire Council to help mitigate the steel works restructuring, Mr Fallon praised leader Liz Redfern's work.
"Councillor Redfern and her board are already doing an excellent job, with more than £5 million now gone out of the door. It has been committed by North Lincolnshire Council and is creating 370 new jobs in the area," he said.
Businesses interested in applying are urged to seek assistance from the LEP and local authority. For more information, call 01482 685260, e-mail funding@humberlep.org or visit http://goo.gl/vxM95
