Funding worth £50,000 is being made available for business growth in the Heads of the Valleys area of Caerphilly County Borough.
In the last round of funding 13 businesses were given financial support through the Heads of the Valleys Business Seed Capital Fund.
This year’s funding of £50,000 is a huge increase on last year’s £15,000.
Cllr Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and sustainable development, said: “We are delighted that there has been an increase in the funding available for our businesses in the Heads of the Valleys area.
“We want our businesses to stay ahead with their growth and expansion plans – they could benefit from up to 50% eligible project costs to a maximum of £2,000.
“I urge people thinking of starting a business or local businesses wanting to expand, to get in touch with the Business Enterprise Support Team and find out whether their business idea or project is eligible for funding support.”
Contact the Business Enterprise Support Team to find out whether your project is eligible for support on 01443 866222 or email business@caerphilly.gov.uk
Any contribution local government makes to the support and possible job creation prospects for local businesses has to be welcome, as is this major local contribution by Caerphilly County Borough council.
The report infers that this money is clearly ring fenced under the `Valleys Business Seed Capital Fund`, it appears this money is for the assistance of businesses in The Heads of the Valley area, and, in that respect, it has to be welcome.
I wonder what similar help exists for small businesses in the Caerphilly Basin?.
I do know that Councillor Ken James portfolio includes the work of the Caerphilly Town Centre Management Group, this groups meets every three months and I have followed the work of the Caerphilly Group for some years, I have seen extensive funds spent by this group on various Caerphilly Projects, many of them of no meaningful use to anyone, it would be a pity if similar funds to those available in the north of the borough, (and ring fenced for realistic spending projects which may help in job creation) were not replicated in the Caerphilly Basin.
With that in mind, the Council, through Councillor Ken James department, should be encouraged to find the money so that South Caerphilly businesses can benefit from the allocating the spending of these hard pressed public funds which may manifest into jobs and infrastructure improvements to local companies, and traders.
As Mr Bond rightly states there have been a number of investments made by the Caerffili Town Centre Management group perhaps he could as the "Voice of Labour" now list what was funded that was of no meaningful use?
I recall investment in various areas such as highway improvements, new lighting, footpaths the current improvement of Pentrebane Street not to mention contributing to the Caerffili in Bloom, The Christmas Market both draw visitors from all over South Wales and England.
In this case the budget spend of £6000 per annum is very little compared to the millions available in overall grant funding so Caerffili gets a lot for its buck when finances are managed by a responsible group.
Councillor James Fussell has asked that I explain " what was funded that was of no meaningful use", I think I should start by making it clear that the promotion he applies to me as "the voice of Labour" is undeserved and is completely incorrect of course, and it is totally disingenuous to those people who are the true voice of the Labour Party, and, for him to attach such a title to me, an ordinary member of the public,is promoting me way any political beliefs I hold, although I suppose it could be said that I do not support him in the ballot box, but there again he would not expect me to.
I will not list the many meaningless projects which have seen public money wasted in Caerphilly, but I would point out that the projects he mentioned are ` normal` local authority spending responsibility, and, would be expended in different measure whatever political party is in control, they are what local councils do day in day out.
Perhaps Councillor Fussell can explain to anyone who reads these pages what happened to the Plaid Cymru promised new library on the old post office site?. Was it all smoke and mirrors by Plaid Cymru or are we all being let down by the new Labour Council?