AN agency that has brought in over £2m to Richmondshire over the last 12 months has been given a cash boost of its own.

The local district council has agreed to allocate £20,250 to the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.

Working as a partnership of local authorities and businesses in the region, the LEP helps to determine local economic priorities and lead growth and job creation.

The council’s Corporate Board has agreed to fund the group after hearing that money has been secured for a variety of projects from a number of national pots.

Among others they include £1.7m from the Government’s Local Growth Deal for Catterick Junction and the A6136 and supporting five companies with Business Growth Grants totalling £258,000

Council leader Yvonne Peacock said: “One of the district council’s key priorities is economic growth and the LEP is helping us to fulfil that.

“Recently not only has £1.7m come into the district for the A6136 but it also helped a business in Masham expand into our area - into Melsonby, bringing with it jobs and investment.”