£40 million from Government to support East Kent jobs

Brilliant news for East Kent

The Government today announced that East Kent has won its Regional Growth Fund Bid. The fund supports projects and programmes that leverage private sector investment and will help businesses expand their operations and create new jobs.

Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet and Sandwich said: “I am thrilled that we have been successful in our bid to gain £40 million to create local jobs.  This is an amazing achievement for East Kent. While we know that East Kent is not paved with gold, years of misunderstanding under the last Labour Government has meant we have had to put a strong case forward highlighting the local economic challenges.

“This is a real boost for new and expanding companies which are located in East Kent or who would like to locate in East Kent. 

“I see this as a crucial part of our economic regeneration supporting the Objective 2 area in East Kent (Thanet and the Sandwich Corridor) with 50% of the money and 50% being allocated to other parts of East Kent.  We will now need to profile the area nationally and internationally to ensure that we are seen as a prime location for businesses. 

“This bid is focused on supporting large and small companies that will generate jobs focused on new technologies and the life sciences with support for R&D. It will also help fund those companies that are looking for new plant and machinery that will result in new jobs and also infrastructure improvements when they can be shown to be directly linked to job creation.

“I am particularly pleased to see that there will be a particular focus on science, the renewable energy sector and tourism based around heritage and culture. These are the sectors of the future and we in Thanet and Sandwich must be a part of these emerging markets.

“For the first time in years we have a Government that understands East Kent.  This significant sum illustrates the potential of East Kent to be a centre for business and jobs.”