Roadmap to help Staffordshire recover from the coronavirus crisis drawn up
A five-year business recovery strategy has been drawn up in Staffordshire to help the economy back onto its feet after coronavirus.
Chiefs at Staffordshire County Council said the virus would have a "negative" impact on the county – with businesses struggling.
But it has drawn up a new plan to build on the strengths of the area – with a £870,000 investment into two "enterprise" centres.
The move will see the centres at Cannock Chase and Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, allowed to expand – allowing them to offer small businesses units with flexible rent agreements.
Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said: "The role of the county council is central to supporting everyone during these changing times, and indeed the recovery and renewal of our economy is already under way.
"As well as continuing to invest in the conditions all businesses need to thrive, the current situation has also presented us with opportunities to further develop the Staffordshire economy by supporting the creation of those clean, digital, highly productive businesses that will provide the jobs of the future.
"Our five-year Economic Recovery and Renewal Strategy is a roadmap to regrowth and a renewed economic landscape. It includes our approach to supporting new businesses to become established, robust and thrive, including the refurbishment of previously unused parts of the in-demand Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre, and the expansion of the Silverdale centre to create much needed extra workshop space."
Business support, meeting rooms, networking opportunities and parking are also included, with the investment seeing 21 new units created and 45 new jobs.
Work is set to begin immediately after the £355,850 cash boost from the council, £371,150 from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Along with £150,000 from the county council and Cannock Chase District Council's Pye Green investment fund.
The investment is on top of £860,000 already committed by Staffordshire County Council to support the local economy to recover.
It will be discussed by the county council cabinet at its meeting next Wednesday.
