BURNLEY has won another £1.3 million of European cash.

The council, the college and several voluntary organisations have secured money which will help fund investment in needy areas and training and employment projects.

A total of 16 projects were approved for grants from the regional development fund and the social fund.

Councillor Kath Reade, leader of the council, told the Citizen: "Burnley is in the lead in developing this type of working to benefit people and businesses in the town."

Brenda Wilkinson, the council's European officer, said: "The latest success is due to the quality of work done by managers in the council, the college and key voluntary organisations.

"It is also due to the close working between all the organisations which have come together to share information about funding opportunities and how best to gain access to these."

The successful organisations were Burnley council, Burnley College, New Era Enterprises, Freshfields Training and South West Burnley Community Enterprise. Many projects, including wage subsidy projects, will also receive from the challenge fund.

Brenda said: "The council's projects include a co-operative development project in Stoneyholme designed to help people establish community businesses, and a second part of a project to establish Burnley as the main European venue for blues festivals."

Other projects include a design centre and a technology initiative at the college, a training and resource centre for the disabled, and another community business scheme in south west Burnley.

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