BUSINESSES and community groups are being urged to submit a bid to win a share of funding to help breathe new life into coastal areas.

Regeneration grants for schemes costing more than £50,000 are up for grabs in Redcar -Coatham and east Cleveland as round four of the Coastal Community Fund (CCF) opens for applications.

The multi-million pound government fund has previously supported a number of landscape and tourism developments in the coastal areas of Redcar and Cleveland, as well as providing funding for the Kirkleatham Catering Academy.

Councillor Dale Quigley, cabinet member for economic growth at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: “Through the fund, the Coastal Communities Teams are aiming to boost the growth of our local economy and make improvements to the area.

“The council is delighted to be working with the teams to encourage local participation and to support the development of projects, which will make our borough a great place to live, visit and work.”

The council is looking to drive economic plans to help bring sustainable jobs, tourism and economic development to the coastal areas.

Paul Kitchener, chairman of the Redcar-Coatham coastal communities team said: “We have a wealth of knowledge and are looking forward to receiving your project plans. We have a real strong opportunity to help and support projects that bring economic diversification and sustainable job creation to the area.”

Announcing the latest £90m to be spent over the coming four years, Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “Our Great British Coast has enormous economic potential and we are determined to see it thrive all year round.

“That’s why today we’re investing £90 million in exciting new business ideas across our much-loved seaside areas – bringing not just a wave of enthusiasm but also creating thousands of good new jobs too.”

The Redcar-Coatham CCT is holding two events in June that are open to everyone, where people can find out more information and where they will be able to access help and advice on writing successful funding bids.

The bid writing workshop takes place on Wednesday, June 8, between 6pm ans 8pm at Tuned-In! Redcar; and the CCT meeting on Wednesday, June 22, 5.30pm at the same venue.

All bids for projects in that area need to be submitted to the team by Saturday, June 18 for consideration and feedback in advance of the CCF application deadline date of noon on Thursday, June 30.

If you have a project in the East Cleveland Coast area or would like further information on CCF / CCTs in the borough you can contact the masterplan delivery team at the council on 01287-612347.