The NWDA is investing £100,000 to push the message that Cumbria is ready to welcome visitors after the floods. Much of the county was unaffected directly by the flooding and even towns and villages that were affected, such as Workington and Keswick, are trading as usual. On November 24th the NWDA launched a £1 million Flood Recovery Grants package for small Cumbrian businesses but has granted Cumbria Tourism an additional £100,000 to support a national marketing campaign.

Three investments from the Grant for Research and Development (GRAND) scheme were announced in November to support the development of innovative new products or processes:
Lancashire-based Image Solutions Ltd
      
Cumbrian-based Bells of Lazonby 
      
Manchester-based Reaxa Ltd
       

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Chancellor Alistair Darling have outlined a package of announcements outlining how the Northwest is helping British businesses seize the opportunities that civil nuclear power represents for the UK economy. The Northwest has been chosen as Low Carbon Area for Nuclear (LCEA), based on the region’s unique assets and capabilities within the field of nuclear energy.   

The NWDA and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund programme have confirmed funding for the North West Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence Programme 2 (ASCE). The £7.1 million programme, delivered and designed by the Northwest Aerospace Alliance, aims to secure a competitive base of world-class SMEs in the region’s aerospace sector.

Part One (the high level strategic framework) of the Regional Strategy 2010 is currently being prepared and will be subject to an eight week consultation in January/February 2010. A number of events will also be held across the region to share details of the strategy and encourage debate to help shape the future of the region. Part One will be available in January on the Regional Strategy website and you can sign up for alerts to inform you when it's available.

For further stories from the NWDA and partners across the Northwest visit the NWDA website.

The NWDA and the Northern Way have revealed details of the NorthernNet project, which will revolutionise collaboration, innovation and interaction between digital and creative industries across the North. The Northern Way has invested £9.4 million, supported by a further £2.27 million from the NWDA, to develop physical premises and a very high speed telecommunication network of 100Mbs.

11th December 2009, One Central Park, Manchester
The NWDA is hosting a briefing event for partners to announce the details of the new £100m million JESSICA (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) initiative, which will provide debt, equity and guarantee investment to support projects that will help unlock and regenerate sustainable development in the region’s urban areas.

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© Northwest Regional Development Agency 2009
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Phone: 01925 400100

Nuclear new build 

The Government published the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement during November, incorporating potential sites for a new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK. England’s Northwest will have four sites in the draft NPS, including Braystones, Sellafield and Kirksanton in Cumbria and Heysham in Lancashire.

Cutting edge pharmaceutical firm invests millions in Wirral laboratories 

Bristol-Myers Squibb, the US headquarters biopharmaceutical giant, is investing $6 million dollars (£3.5 million) in its research and development laboratory in Moreton, Wirral.

MIDAS and NWDA secures 160 jobs for Manchester City Region 

MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency and the NWDA have secured approximately 160 jobs for the City Region. SPX Corporation, a US-based multi-industry group with operations worldwide, has chosen Manchester as the location for a major shared service centre for its pan-European operations.

Tulip announce 270 new jobs in Wirral 

Tulip Ltd, the UK’s leading producer of pork and bacon products has announced the creation of 270 new jobs at its production facility in Wirral. In a move that will see over £12 million of investment in the Wirral site, Tulip Ltd will create a modern, highly productive and state-of-the-art sausage production facility at Bromborough.