I am delighted to share with you that Northumberland and the North of Tyne combined authority has successfully secured £3 million from the Government's £110 million Rural England Prosperity Fund.
This week, the Government confirmed the indicative allocations that had been published last year and I am proud to be part of a Government committed to boosting investment in and support for rural areas like ours. Knowing the unique issues our rural constituency faces, I am particularly pleased that our area will benefit from this funding.
This funding will help Northumberland and other rural areas invest in initiatives and activities that address the particular challenges rural areas face, supporting the development of countryside communities and rural businesses to boost productivity and create job opportunities. Possible examples include capital grants to improve digital infrastructure, efforts to restore natural and historical assets, farm diversification, projects to boost rural tourism, and community infrastructure projects including electric vehicle charging stations.
Be assured I will be writing to the Council to learn more about how this £3m of funding will be used, and how it can best benefit our local area, to ensure that our community receives the support and resources it needs to thrive.