Coastal communities fund announces first areas to benefit from cash injection to boost seaside economies
The first seaside areas to win government funds to boost their economies have been announced.
The six schemes in England to receive money include the first coastal tourism academy in Europe and a project to support sustainable lobster fishing.
The money comes from the £24m coastal communities fund launched earlier this year. Further projects will be announced over the coming months.
The fund will be increased to £28m next year, the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, said.
The biggest award is £2m to Bournemouth borough council over two years to create Europe's first national coastal tourism academy.
Funds will also support tourism businesses. The project aims to create 165 jobs over three years in Bournemouth and 2,100 nationwide.
Barrow in Furness was awarded £900,000 for an initiative to boost growth, with the aim of creating 275 full-time and 85 part-time jobs, and the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, Cornwall, will benefit from £150,000 to provide four jobs and 15 training and volunteering opportunities at the social enterprise.