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Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, has congratulated 21 coastal community projects across Wales set to benefit from a share of nearly £4.6 million.

Under the UK Treasury’s Coastal Communities Fund, grants are available to fund projects which boost the economy of coastal communities across the UK. The fund for Wales is delivered in partnership between the Welsh Government and Big Lottery Fund.

Recently Lesley Griffiths congratulated the projects, which will share £4,591,612, on their successful bids. She said:

"We want to see vibrant, viable communities all along Wales’s fantastic coastline. This fund will support our work to regenerate coastal towns, boosting their economic development as well as their standing as key tourism and cultural destinations.

"The funding will enable those with local knowledge to develop projects addressing the specific issues facing their communities. I look forward to seeing how these schemes benefit local people and support our wider regeneration vision for Wales."

Fran Targett, Chair, Coastal Communities Fund Wales Committee, said:

"Coastal Communities share a strong sense of place and this funding will give areas in Wales a welcome boost by supporting the development of their local economies."

The Coastal Communities Fund was announced by the UK Government in 2011 to provide funding on a bid basis for projects supporting local economic development in coastal communities.

The applications were considered by the Coastal Communities Fund Wales Committee and approved by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. During the selection process, consideration was taken of how plans for economic growth address local needs and priorities, job creation and long-term sustainability.

The 21 projects set to benefit are:

• RSPB Cymru will receive £267,843 for a two year project to develop the existing visitor facilities at RSPB Cymru South Stack on the west coast of Anglesey to improve the tourism experience.
• Porthcawl Harbourside Community Interest Company will benefit from £297,597 to further develop the Marina/Harbour quarter in Porthcawl by increasing boat capacity, providing new water sports activity provision as well as education facilities for visitors and local people.
• Meithrinfa Gymraeg Derwen Deg is set to receive £283,898 for a project to develop a new full time Welsh language childcare provision in Llandudno Junction on the Conwy coast.
• Cwm Harry Land Trust Ltd will receive £75,000 to create a new cafe to serve the Moelyci Environmental Visitor and Education Centre, just outside of Tregarth, near Bangor.
• Cardiff Marine Group Ltd has been awarded £300,000 to make significant improvements to Aberystwyth harbour and marina, upgrading infrastructure and services.
• Sustrans Limited will benefit from £299,364 for a  scheme to construct a new walking and cycling path linking Pembrey to Kidwelly and providing direct access into Pembrey Country Park and the Millennium Coastal Path - both key tourism destinations.
• Antur Waunfawr is set to receive £238,056 to develop an existing business in Caernarfon as a social enterprise which will provide bicycle sales, hire, repairs and recycling. It will offer training and work experience to people with learning disabilities and unemployed or disadvantaged young people.
• Becws Islyn Bakery Ltd has been awarded  £132,000 to develop the small, family-run bakery business, enabling them to produce a greater amount of artisan products to maximise sales opportunities with local residents, tourists and local businesses.
• Tape Community Music and Film Limited will benefit from £224,304 for a two year project to establish an annual film festival which will take place in Denbighshire and Conwy.
• Groundwork North Wales is set to receive £54,615 for a scheme that will enable the purchase of a purpose built sales tricycle and the recruitment of staff to operate it along a section of the North Wales Coastal Path, providing tourist information, basic first aid and refreshments to people using the path.
• Chapel Bay Fort & Museum, based in Angle on the Pembrokeshire coast, has been awarded £270,626 to support the restoration of this unique Ancient Scheduled Monument and improve access. The site will be opening to the public as a Museum and interpretation centre for the military and social history of Pembrokeshire.
• Vale of Glamorgan Council is set to receive £224,760  to maximise the employment potential of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast through encouraging the development of new businesses.
• Menter Aberteifi Cyfyngedig will benefit from £109,974 to re-establish and develop Cardigan Market Hall as a sustainable business hub for market traders and micro-enterprises.
• Vale of Rheidol Railway Limited has been awarded £288,000 to provide high quality heritage skills training at the Vale of Rheidol Heritage Railway.
• Cyngor Tref Nefyn will receive £300,000 to improve a section of the Wales Coast Path between Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn to make it accessible to people with disabilities and young families, as well as re-opening a section of an historic 10 mile route from Nefyn to Llanbedrog.
• Ceredigion County Council is set to receive £150,718 to raise the profile of the Ceredigion coastline as a place to visit throughout the year.
• Bluestone Brewing Company Limited will benefit from £80,746 to support a one year project to provide a visitor facility, office and storage facilities within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• Fishguard & Goodwick Chamber of Trade and Tourism has been awarded £291,032 for a project to promote North Pembrokeshire as a visitor destination through the development and coordination of tourism services.
• Menter Y Felin Uchaf Cyf, based on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, will benefit from £298,900 to create a new Centre for Archaeology, Mythology and Storytelling.
• Cardigan Bay Watersports will receive £123,974 to provide new products and activities, upgraded equipment and professional management.
• Cyngor Gwynedd is set to receive £280,205 for a two year project to develop 13 identified linear or circular routes which link communities to the Wales Coast Path, maximising the economic benefit of the path in Gwynedd.

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