£6m grant scheme for small manufacturers set for approval

NEXT STEP IN LOW-TAX ZONE AIMED AT BRINGING £6BN INVESTMENT AND 6,000 JOBS

- By ALEC DOYLE Local Democracy Reporter

Flintshire Council enterprise and regeneration manager Niall Waller

WREXHAM and Flintshire are on the brink of approving a new grant programme for small manufacturers as part of the new Investment Zone.

The Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone (IZ) is a project across both local authorities that designates specific areas Deeside Gateway, Deeside Industrial Park, Wrexham Industrial Estate and Warren Hall near Broughton as low tax zones with exclusive access to grant funding and support.

The aim is for the zone to attract £1 billion of investment and create around 6,000 jobs.

The first of the funding opportunities expected to be launched is the Small to Medium Manufacturing Grant.

The fund will cost an initial £6m - which will be split 50-50 between Wrexham and Flintshire's share of £160m of UK Government funding to support the IZ.

Wrexham County Borough Council's Executive Board approved the scheme last week and now Flintshire County Council's Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee has recommended that Cabinet approve the grant programme next Tuesday.