LOCAL business will get £9 million of funding to to grow, innovate and boost productivity.

The funding was agreed yesterday by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee, and businesses across the Leeds City Region will benefit from investment as part of an overall £1bn Growth Deal with the Government, aimed at boosting job creation.

It targets priority sectors of manufacturing, low carbon and environmental, financial and business services, digital and creative and health and life sciences.

Grants of between £10,000 and £250,000 will be available in areas including Bradford, Calderdale and Craven.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee said, “I am delighted this additional funding has been agreed that will boost growth, innovation and productivity across our region.

"We have so many innovative companies in our region making a significant contribution to prosperity and job creation. This new funding will boost the innovation capacity of our businesses yet further, supporting local partners’ ambition of making Leeds City Region the best place in the UK to innovate and grow your business.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and Combined Authority Board Member said, “This is great news for the region, its businesses and the economy. Supporting growing businesses is at the heart of the LEP and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s work to transform the Leeds City Region economy and this funding will help us to build on the work already underway to create jobs, develop skills and drive productivity.”

460 businesses have been awarded grants so far as part of an overall £41m investment into businesses in the region. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Board are set to approve this new funding at their meeting on June 29.