THE government investment announced today will be spent on a host of improvements across the Humber.
But although the £104m Local Growth Fund package will have many uses, taken together it shows the Government recognises the region is an important national asset.
For Peter Aarosin, chairman of the Bondholders marketing organisation, its location is key.
He hopes the grants will tie East Yorkshire into a wider network able to compete with London.
He said: "Ministers have recognised targeted government funds for the Humber, supported by local partners and the private sector, will produce a rich return in terms of economic growth and jobs.
"The announcement addresses a number of key infrastructure issues, right across the Humber, thereby enabling schemes to go forward which will have a substantial impact on the region's economy, connectivity and prosperity.
"The funding for transport improvements, including electrification of rail lines to Hull and access to Humberside Airport, will further enhance our region's connections to national and international markets."
Here, we look in more detail at the schemes being supported and the difference they will make.
Flooding
THE biggest single investment is a £48m cash injection to improve flood defences.
On the north bank, £3m is being spent at Albert Dock, where so many businesses were badly hit by the tidal surge in December.
Another £3m will be used in Paull and Hedon, close to where German energy giant Siemens is building a wind turbine factory, and £28m more will be spent on Orchard Park, Cottingham, Anlaby and East Ella – all victims in 2007, when East Yorkshire suffered the worst floods in living memory.
These projects will protect 90 per cent of the homes swamped six years ago.
The Lister Street headquarters of safety firm Arco were damaged in the surge.
Joint managing director Neil Jowsey said: "The tidal flood surge in December resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage, not only to our business but a number of businesses and homes in the city.
"The flood defence funding announcement today is extremely welcome news.
The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership has also been granted control of some of the Government's national flooding budget, ensuring money is available in an emergency.
Rail electrification
THE Government had already backed railway electrification between Hull and Selby in March, with Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin committing £2.5m to the scheme.
An additional £7.5m will now be spent if, as expected, studies show the work is possible and necessary.
A total of £1.5m is being handed over next year, with £6m to come after that, and a £20m discount loan is also available.
The project is intended to plug Hull into a wider network of northern cities.
First Hull Trains managing director Will Dunnett said: "We're proud that with the cross-party support of our local MPs, the Government have seen the clear economic benefits of our scheme to electrify this vital route.
"Our plan is very much moving towards reality, which will provide more seats and better journeys to the region and our customers and secure the long-term future of our Hull-based employee base.
Castle Street
A FOOTBRIDGE over Castle Street in Hull is to get £4m.
Intended to increase visitor numbers in the Marina by making it easier to cross the road near Princes Quay shopping centre, the project has been backed by the Highways Agency.
Four designs have been put forward, with enough money already secured for the cheapest £1.3m option.
The extra money will allow more expensive designs costing up to £4.3m to be considered.
New housing
A MASSIVE house building programme is being funded.
About 1,500 new homes are to be built in Hull, with 4,500 refurbishments.
It continues a construction programme which is already seeing 1,200 properties put up at Newington and St Andrew's neighbourhoods, in west Hull, along with more than 1,600 in Kingswood parks to the city's north.
Hull has seen a particularly high uptake of the Government's Help to Buy scheme, which allows young people to get on the property ladder with a low-deposit mortgage.
Speaking last year, East Yorkshire developer Beal Homes' managing director Richard Beal said: "A more positive economic outlook, growing consumer confidence, improved access to mortgages and the introduction of the Government's Help To Buy scheme have all contributed to regrowth in the housing market."
Education
A £1m PROJECT to expand Goole College's vocational skills workshop will support the Humber's green energy boom by refurbishing classrooms to provide engineering and renewables technologies training.
Principal Lynne Richardson said: "I'm delighted with the investment committed to Goole College by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.
"The investment supports our commitment to securing increased employment opportunities for the Humber by raising skills and employability levels."
The Department for Work and Pensions has also agreed to let Humber councils run a pilot scheme in which jobseekers can carry out more than 16 hours of training per week without losing any benefits.
Business support
A BUSINESS support pot that has so far helped at least 79 companies expand has been given another £4m.
The Growing The Humber fund was set up with £27m of government funding and is used by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to help firms increase their workforces.
So far more than £14.6m has been spent, with more projects in the pipeline.
An additional £2m will be given to the LEP next year and the same amount the following year.
