A £10-MILLION grant to support the renewables industry on the South Bank will put Grimsby at the forefront of the UK's offshore wind industry.
That was the view of North East Lincolnshire Council bosses, who were yesterday celebrating the news that its bid for Regional Growth Fund (RGF) cash had been accepted by the government.
The Growing The Humber bid, which was submitted by NELC in partnership with the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), also includes a £20-million programme to support growth in other key sectors such as logistics, food and digital on both sides of the estuary.
Jason Longhurst, the council's head of development, said the funding would enable Grimsby to become the country's leading centre for offshore wind operations and maintenance – as well as a leading player in Europe.
Leader of the council Chris Shaw said: "We are absolutely delighted. Our job is to now accelerate investment and add to the list of companies that have already chosen to locate in Grimsby."
Only 130 of the 414 bids submitted from across the country for Round 3 RGF funding were successful.
A separate NELC-led bid for £14-million to support Grimsby's food processing sector was unsuccessful.
The outcome of the two other bids local submitted – one by Grimsby Town Football Club, and one by Vireol for its planned biomass plant at Moody Lane, Grimsby – was unclear.
See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for more reaction.