Over the lifetime of the programme, Welsh Government’s Coastal Communities Fund has funded projects from a variety of sectors including fisheries, manufacturing, food and drink, and tourism. Successful applications will usually demonstrate the following:
- Clear project outputs which can be evidenced, particularly job creation
- Ability to deliver the project within agreed timescales
- Sustainability of activity and longer-term impact
Projects funded by past rounds of the Welsh Government’s Coastal Communities Fund include:
Halen Môn received a £298,608 grant to diversify their business by producing new sea salt products and expanding their smoked products range, increasing the capacity of the company’s ‘Behind the Scenes Tours’, and creating an outdoor catering area to serve local seafood and drink.
Milford Haven Port Authority were awarded £139,568 to install four accessible floating hotel rooms – “floatel cabins” – at their marina. The cabins are constructed from timber with a traditional maritime aesthetic and include a bedroom area, bathroom, living area, and external terrace which can accommodate up to four people.
Creating Enterprise used their £174,580 establish a factory to build timber frames for new-build affordable housing developments across north Wales. The initiative created five new jobs and 50 work placement/training opportunities for people in low skilled employment or out of work.
Vale of Rheidol Railway’s £251,280 project trained two young people in the skills to refurbish derelict steam train carriages, bringing disabled access and first-class carriages back into use. The new carriages have enabled the business to extend their train journey experiences to people with disabilities, maximise their partnerships with local businesses, and host new themed train journeys.
Colwyn Bay Watersports CIC’s project delivers tuition in sailing, windsurfing, and powerboating as well as canoe and kayak hire. This £100,000 grant enabled the organisation to meet demand by increasing staff numbers and purchasing additional equipment and sailing craft.
Cwrw Llyn received £64,400 to develop and expand their micro brewery enterprise. This grant purchased equipment to double the company’s brewing capacity, and part fund a new van to deliver and market the products of a larger area in north and mid Wales.
