Tomos Dafydd Davies has welcomed today’s signing of the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
The Mid Wales Growth Deal has today seen its Heads of Terms signed by both the UK and Welsh governments, as well as Powys and Ceredigion local authorities. The deal will see £110 million of investment pumped into the region, with both the UK and Welsh governments each investing £55 million.
The partners in the deal will now move on to identifying specific projects to benefit from investment, with 8 strategic growth areas identified. These are:
- Applied Research & Innovation
- Agriculture, Food & Drink
- Energy
- Digital Connectivity
- Transport
- Strengthened Tourism Identity
- Business Support
- Skills & Employment
Welcoming the signing of the Mid Wales Growth Deal, Tomos Dafydd Davies said:
The delivery of the Mid Wales Growth Deal today, represents a fantastic day for Mid & West Wales.
The Mid Wales Growth Deal was a Conservative manifesto pledge and has been over three years in the making. I am delighted that the UK Government has delivered £55 million of investment in the region, and I am hopeful this will bring growth and opportunities to Mid & West Wales
It feels like only yesterday as a Wales Office Special Adviser I was involved in initial negotiations with Treasury officials to unlock growth deals across Wales alongside Stephen Crabb MP.
The Growth Deal will help grow the economy of mid Wales and help build the vital infrastructure that we need for our businesses and communities to thrive.
This is precisely the sort of ambition we want to see more of for Mid & West Wales from the Welsh Government in 2021."
Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart MP said:
Today marks a really important step forward for Mid Wales. In a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, I think people could be forgiven for wondering whether such agreements would stand the test of time. But the UK Government have always been intent on delivering this deal and have today signed off £55million, which we are happy to see will be matched by the Welsh Government. This represents a hugely significant amount of money for Mid Wales which will be used on areas such as digital infrastructure, transport, agriculture, tourism – all areas which are of huge importance to Mid Wales and will matter even more as we emerge the other side of this pandemic.
I am very pleased by the positive collaboration between not just the UK and Welsh Governments, but also MPs, MSs and County Councillors. Today represents the moment where we can say that the Mid Wales Growth Deal is actually going to be delivered.”
