Staffordshire business body wins cash backing
A Staffordshire business body has won £172,500 to try to help it generate jobs and prosperity for the county.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been awarded the funding by the government.
The money will be used to help establish the body as a lobbying force for business to ministers.
The organisation will set itself up as a community interest company to promote the area and apply for funding to make the county desirable for enterprise.
The LEP has been backed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council.
Chairman of the LEP Maitland Hyslop said: "We're absolutely delighted to have received £172,500 of government start-up funding. This means we can really get to work.
"This is great news for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP and reinforces the message that this business-led organisation is really making waves in creating the conditions for enterprise to thrive, generating more prosperity and jobs now and into the future."
The organisation is also hoping for the approval of an Enterprise Zone for the area.
He added: "This funding will help us to cement the strong foundations we've already laid, allowing us to build our back office operations and start to exert our independence and identity as a power house for local industry and enterprise.
"Now we can really get on with promoting the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire investment agenda."