A £100,000 investment fund will be set up to help Bridgend and surrounding area recover from the closure of Ford Engine Plant in the autumn.
The money will come equally from Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region funds to enable Bridgend County Borough Council study three projects.
News of the investment and feasibility studies will be outlined later this morning when Economy Minister Ken Skates meets the Ford Bridgend Taskforce which was set up last year by Welsh Government and public bodies after the car giant announced the closure of the engine plant after 41 years with the loss of over 1,200 jobs.
The Ford Taskforce is chaired by Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE and includes representatives from Ford, Welsh Government, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, BEIS, Trade Unions, Bridgend council and others.
Separately, there has been a boost to employment hopes with the news that new automotive start-up Ineos Automotive will move into a 300,000 sqft assembly plant being constructed on Brocastle Estate next to the Ford site to build a new Grenadier 4×4 model for global sale. Initially, when it opens in 2021 there will be about 500 assembly jobs with more in the supply chain and further expansion has not been ruled out.
Mr Skates said the Task Force will continue to work with Ford for future use of the 1.2M sqft plant when it ceases production in September and that Bridgend town will be a priority for help.
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