Millions made available for economy-boosting projects

St Paul’s Centre. Fiscal Stimulus Package Press Conference the Minister for Treasury and Resources – Deputy Susie Pinel Picture: ROB CURRIE

Not-for-profit organisations, government departments and arm’s-length organisations can apply for grants for schemes costing less than £5 million and which are due to be completed by December 2021.

Eligible projects could include those which support employment or businesses, develop skills training programmes, improve infrastructure and property or maintain and/or improve productivity.

The first tranche of applications for money from the fiscal-stimulus fund, which is worth £50 million in total, saw 92 submissions made before the end of last year.

The appraisal results for that first round of funding will be announced in early March.

Treasury Minister Susie Pinel said: ‘The States Assembly has specifically ringfenced this money to invite applications for small-scale projects that can be completed by the end of 2021 and have a direct effect on the economic uplift.

‘I am delighted with the response to this fiscal-stimulus initiative and I hope that we will see a good uptake for the second tranche. We want to encourage applications for projects that will help our Island recover from the pandemic and I know I can count on Jersey to bring forward innovative and relevant ideas and initiatives.’

Two new independent members have been appointed to the Fiscal Stimulus Oversight Group and will support it in reviewing the businesses cases received.

They are company director and charity chairman John Refault, who is also the former Constable of St Peter, and Amy Bryant, deputy chief executive of Jersey Finance, and a council member of the Jersey Good Business Charter.

The fiscal-stimulus fund was created using the revolving debt facility set up in response to the Covid-19 crisis and will allow the government to take up to £500 million from a consortium of local banks.

More information is available online at gov.je/FiscalFund.

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