College in line for a £2m grant
The SWRDA announced on Monday how it will allocate £139 million in the coming year.
Bridgwater College's nuclear and energy skills centre will receive £1.9 million and the Bridgwater Challenge – the town's regeneration project – will receive £400,000.
Plans for the skills centre were approved by Sedgemoor District Council in March and the 15-month project will start this year.
College principal Finao McMillan welcomed the cash.
She said: "We are very pleased to learn that our application for funding for the Energy Skills Centre has been identified as a programme for investment by the regional development agency.
"We understand that it is still subject to some technical assessments that are still to be completed, but this is very positive news.
"The centre will provide superb facilities for energy-related skills training, including decommissioning, new build and alternative energies.
"It will make a major contribution to the development of the engineers of the future."
The regeneration grant will go towards keeping the project running and paying for consultations, spaces for drop-in clinics and designers.
SWRDA announced on Monday where the money will be channelled – including £3.6 million going to projects in Somerset.
Over two years, £262 million will be given to projects in the South West, £52 million less than last year, a budget cut SWRDA said is due to it having to tighten its belt.
Talking about the spending cuts, SWRDA chief executive Jane Henderson said: "None of these choices has been made lightly, and we regret the disappointment that will be felt by some of our partners and stakeholders in having to scale back our investment activity.
"Given limited resources, we have our sights firmly focused on doing the things that are most important for ensuring that the South West comes through the recession in the best possible shape to succeed as a dynamic, sustainable and thriving regional economy."
