In 1999 the UK Government announced its proposals for the new European Objective 2 Programme. This included a list of areas eligible to apply for funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from 2000 – 2006. ERDF aims to reduce inequalities in socio-economic development between the regions of the European Community, through supporting infrastructure projects, job creation, investments, local development and aid for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In North and Western Lancashire, eligible areas for the objective 2 programme include parts of Blackpool, Chorley, Lancaster, Preston, West Lancashire and Wyre.

Further Information about the Objective 2 Programme and ERDF can be found at: *

The North and Western Lancashire Priority 1 Partnership was formed in 2001 to develop an Action Plan entitled, 'Delivering an Entrepreneurial, Competitive and Digital Economy in North and Western Lancashire'. The Action Plan was allocated £10.6million in ERDF with the objective to create and protect jobs and income by investing in new business, innovation and e-commerce and by improving the business performance of existing SMEs. Organisations/Applicants can apply for financial assistance from the Action Plan in line with activities in one or more of its five themes. For details of these themes please see the Project Activity section of this website.

The Current Action Plan has been successfully funding a wide cross section of eligible projects in North and Western Lancashire for two years, and will be moving into the second phase of the programme in January 2004. To enable the Action Plan to further assist eligible areas, a further £1.9million has been granted to the North and Western Priority 1 Partnership to fund this second or Successor Phase, which will run until 2006.

* Lancashire County Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.