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England’s Northwest makes pledge towards a Low Carbon Economy

1st May 2009

• £10m of NWDA funding towards four Carbon Reduction initiatives
• £30m worth of total investment for the region

Speaking at HRH The Prince of Wales's May Day Business Summit on Climate Change 2009, Bryan Gray, Chair of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), today announced a package of measures worth £30 million in a move to make England's Northwest the leading region in tackling climate change.

The NWDA will provide £3.3 million towards two business support initiatives with £3.3 million match funding coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Of this, £4.4m has been approved for 'Grant for Improving your Resource Efficiency' a programme which is designed to help SME's fund investments in the most environmentally friendly capital equipment. In addition £2.2m has been approved for additional projects under 'Grant for Research and Development' to encourage the development and demonstration of carbon emission reducing technologies.

Both of these NWDA based programmes form part of the Government's Solutions for Business package, a suite of highly targeted, publicly funded products and services offering solutions to real business needs and tackling market failure. Solution for Business helps companies start, survive and succeed and makes government support simpler for business reducing the number of support products by 2010.

Funding for two additional carbon reduction initiatives have also been approved by the NWDA today. Launched earlier in the year, Foundation, managed by Groundwork Northwest, has been established to give individuals and business the chance to donate to local community projects across the region that are helping to combat climate change. The NWDA has approved £1.6m towards the initiative.

Also, The Carbon Challenge Fund, delivered by Envirolink Northwest, which will enable the demonstrations of innovative technologies including energy efficiency and low carbon generation, low carbon design and construction, low carbon transport technologies and carbon capture in the region. This fund has received £2m of support from the NWDA.

Overall the NWDA funding will support the development and installation of low carbon technologies by SMEs in the region, encourage low carbon innovation in all sectors and ensure that the Northwest is at the vanguard of practical action for carbon reduction initiatives. The four initiatives, which will be available over the next two years, are specifically for SMEs, and community led programmes.

The NWDA funding is also designed to lever in a further £20 million of support from other sources, including the private sector, totalling £30 million of investment for the region for carbon reduction initiatives.

At the event, Bryan Gray Chair of the NWDA said:

"The package of measures announced today by the NWDA support the move towards a low carbon economy and supplement a number of initiatives already in place to reduce the impact of climate change and increase innovation within the region.

"The NWDA recognises that in today's challenging economic climate it is more important than ever before that we are not sidetracked from the Government's agenda to hit its targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases.

"The recent budget announcement to cut carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 must begin with local and regional action, by supporting low carbon industries and investing in energy efficiency schemes for homes, businesses and public organisations."

The third Prince's May Day Summit, convened by Business in the Community as part of the May Day Network, took place at the Concorde Hangar at Manchester Airport Aviation Viewing Park for businesses in England's Northwest. Manchester Airport is the first UK airport to be awarded the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard, in recognition of its commitment to the environment through carbon emissions reduction and carbon management.

The purpose of the May Day Summit is to inspire, challenge and support businesses to integrate climate change considerations into their business practices.

For further information visit www.climatechangenorthwest.co.uk

-- Ends --

Notes to editors

For further information please contact Shelley Tattersall, Press Officer on 01925 400256 or mobile 07500 128482 or shelley.tattersall@nwda.co.uk

For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925 400259.

For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk/press

Northwest Climate Change Action Plan

As the lead Regional Development Agency in England for Energy and Climate Change, the NWDA are taking the lead in addressing globally important issues, with the Climate Change Action Plan at the heart of the Regional Economic Strategy and will be an integral part of the Regional Strategy 2010.

The NWDA is supporting businesses and prioritising investments to ensure that the Northwest is in a strong position to respond to the current economic climate. Initiatives include:

• The launch of a £10m High Growth business support programme
• A new £4m Innovation Voucher Scheme to help 1,000 businesses work with our knowledge base
• Dedicated Access to Finance support within Business Link Northwest - now available
• £140m Venture Capital Loan Fund (VCLF) - to be launched in 2009
• £40m package of support to stimulate investment in priority skills development - to commence in 2009
• 10 day prompt-payment pledge to our suppliers to help with cash-flow

For more information, see www.nwda.co.uk/business

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region's outstanding quality of life

NW ERDF in summary 2007-13

• Total Northwest ERDF is £521m

• Northwest ERDF (excluding Merseyside) is £308m (Within the NWOP, Merseyside has transitional status and a ring-fenced financial allocation to allow the area to adjust gradually).

• Merseyside ring-fenced 'phasing-in' ERDF is £212m (for the period 2007-11)

• Taking account of match funding and the current exchange rate, this provides for total funding of £1bn between 2007-13 (double ERDF total)

• Information on the NWOP Priorities and Action Areas is available at www.erdfnw.co.uk

• Specific Investment Frameworks (IFs) for each action area will identify the type of activity that could be supported under the programme and the types of organisations that are best placed to deliver these projects. Each Investment Framework will have been developed in consultation with local, sub regional and regional partners and approved by the PMC.