The seven-year pitch

Jun 12 2007 By The Journal

Seven years ago, the European Commission commissioned Government Office for the North East with the task of managing the region's European Objective 2 funding programme.

Between the year 2000 and now, a staggering investment of over £500m has been administered through the programme, helping create thousands of new jobs, achieve business growth and support local communities.

In that time, we have provided funding and grant support for nearly 1,500 different projects.

Furthermore, to unlock this money a further £1bn of investment was needed, as `match funding', bringing the total value of all the projects to £1.5bn.

These have ranged from large-scale developments, such as Gateshead Quays, through to multi-million-pound venture capital initiatives, to kick-start businesses and smaller grants for local community regeneration schemes.

We're marking the completion of the programme in this special European edition of Vision. Over the next eight pages, you can see what the region has achieved since 2000 with the help of this significant funding source from the European Union.

Our strong link with Europe is a vital cog in regional economic development.

Many projects in Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley and Tyne & Wear would never have got off the ground without the boost from Objective 2 investment.

Grant funding for physical regeneration makes the region more attractive to investors and gives residents a better way of life. It also helps projects which bring new jobs and business opportunities.

European funding has already left a lasting legacy in the region and it will continue to do so for many years to come, as we hand the baton on to One NorthEast to manage the next round of funding up to 2013.

I hope you will enjoy reading here about what the region has been able to achieve with financial help from Europe.

Jonathan Blackie, Regional Director, Government Office for the North East