PRIORITY 1

PRIORITY 1: COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Priority 1 relates primarily to people.

Rationale

This priority focuses on the needs of people and communities in targeted parts of the Objective 2 areas. It aims to promote social and economic regeneration and to improve the living and working conditions for people belonging to low-income, discriminated and excluded groups.

This priority supports community-led and targeted community neighbourhood economic regeneration. This must take place within the framework of strong local networks and partnerships. The aim is to ensure that local people are encouraged to benefit from employment opportunities created within the region.

Aims

To support the reversal of the long-term decline of local economies in the Objective 2 area.

Activities

Priority 1 support projects led by groups, organisations, networks and partnerships and which aim to:

• build stronger communities;
• assist local people to gain new skills;
• assist local people to get new and better jobs; and
• assist local people to start up and then develop their own community businesses.

Community Economic Development (CED) Areas

Priority 1 projects must take place in specific parts of the Objective 2 area known as the Community Economic Development (CED) Areas. This is to ensure that funds reach communities and individuals most in need of support.

The CED areas are found at:

http://www.go-london.gov.uk/european_structural_funds/objective_2/PostCodeCheck.aspx

Each strategy or plan can be found at:

http://www.go-london.gov.uk/european_structural_funds/objective_2/area_partnership_strategies.asp

Measures

Two measures are funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):

• Measure 1.1: Building economically sustainable communities by building the capacity of local people and by providing funds to develop good quality project ideas ;
• Measure 1.2: Developing community businesses and infrastructure .

One measure is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF):

• Measure 1.3: Community skills development .