An £11m funding package has been launched in a bid to boost economic prosperity in predominantly Welsh-speaking counties.
The funding will be available over the next three years to four counties which have the highest levels of Welsh speakers: Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.
Under the Welsh Government's Arfor 2 programme and as part of the cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru, the funding will be delivered through a number of interventions including supporting commercial and community enterprises that aim to preserve and increase local wealth.
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The financial package will also aim to encourage young people under 35 to stay or return to their home communities by engaging in enterprise or developing a career.
It will also play a role in the devolved government's Welsh language strategy of 1m Welsh speakers 2050.
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “I am pleased that through collaborative working with local authorities and with Plaid Cymru, we have reached agreement on a strategic programme of interventions for Arfor 2 which has potential to make a significant difference in our Welsh speaking heartlands taking forward our ambitions of spreading economic prosperity. By working with our Local Authority partners, we want to support communities that are strongholds of the Welsh language to flourish through economic interventions and contribute to increasing opportunities to see and use the Welsh language on a daily basis.”
Designated member Cefin Campbell said: “By working together we are building on the successes of the Arfor pilot which aims to support and grow the local economy and the Welsh language together. The investment of £11m in this scheme is a direct boost to the economies of the west that will further promote entrepreneurship, business growth and help protect the Welsh language. We want to make sure communities in these areas can thrive and people are able to stay in their local communities for work or to grow a business.”
Gruffydd Rees, co-founder of Carmarthenshire honey company Gwenyn Gruffydd, benefited from the first programme of funding in 2019.
He said: "Having had support through the Arfor Scheme has meant that a small honey business like ours has been given a chance to flourish in a rural Welsh speaking community. It has allowed me and my wife to be full time in the business and enabled us to create a further Welsh speaking job within the business too. It has meant that we have been able to stay in rural West Wales, build a business, create jobs and promote the use of the Welsh language through our work. Being part of Arfor has enabled us as a business to contribute to the Welsh language by giving talks and presentations to local groups and community too.”
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council Cllr Darren Price said: “We are pleased that Carmarthenshire based businesses and communities will be able to access support from the Arfor programme which will provide both economic opportunities across the county as well as support the development and sustainability of the Welsh language.
“By working together with Arfor partners across the West, we have an opportunity to deliver a programme of innovative interventions that will encapsulate the relationship between the Welsh language and the economy.”
The leader of Anglesey County Council Cllr Llinos Medi said, “Our businesses and communities face a number of difficulties at the moment and it’s great to be able to announce such a significant scheme and financial package. Arfor has already show its worth during the first stage of the programme. On Anglesey, 55 local businesses were assisted through an investment of around £400,000. This money either safeguarded or created 80 jobs and promoted the use of the Welsh language in 48 businesses.”
Dyfrig Siencyn, Gwynedd council leader, said: "Our communities may seem vulnerable in some ways, but simultaneously they are vibrant and exciting places with much to offer. I am confident that this investment will help increase opportunity and so encourage our young people to stay and build their lives here, further safeguarding our language, culture and way of life.”
Councillor Bryan Davies of Ceredigion County Council said: "The young people and economy of Ceredigion have already benefited from support under the original Arfor scheme, and this further investment will boost our efforts to realise economic growth and opportunities for young people to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to build a successful career here in Ceredigion."
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