Access Keys:
Skip navigation (Access Key - S)
Home page (Access Key - 1)
Site map (Access Key - 3)
Search (Access Key - 4)
Terms and conditions (Access Key - 8)
Feedback form (Access Key - 9)
Access key details (Access Key - 0)
Language:
Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Polish
Spanish
RSS Feed

Press Releases

Press releases issued by the NWDA and its partner organisations in the current year are listed below. Older press releases can be found by visiting the archive.

Subscribe to the NWDA News RSS Feed



July

Unique floating pontoon attracts wild visitors
29 July 2010
Construction of the unique pontoon designed to float on one of the lakes at Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Reserve site was completed this week. This is the first stage of the project to construct the Brockholes Visitor Centre at the 106 hectare reclaimed wetland habitat near Preston.

Work starts on £30 million Business Park and industrial zone at Penny Lane, Haydock
29 July 2010
Work to transform former brownfield sites in Haydock is now underway. A new business development, Empress Park and an industrial zone at Boston Park, home to a former colliery site, will pave the way for over 2,000 jobs.

NWDA Board members reappointed
26 July 2010
Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, today announced continued terms of appointment to the Board of NWDA. Cllr Anthony McDermott MBE, Cllr Susan Williams, Prof. John Brooks, Peter Allen MBE, Joe Dwek CBE and Cllr John Merry CBE will serve from the 14 December 2010 until the RDA closes. The Minister also announced continued terms from July 2011 until NWDA’s closure to Peter Hensman.

Update on NWDA Funding
26 July 2010
It has been widely reported that the Coalition Government has reduced the NWDA’s budget this year by £52million, plus an additional £3.7m of administration reduction. Following this, the Agency has agreed an approach to making this budget reduction which has been approved by the NWDA Board.

Northwest marks 2 year countdown to London 2012
23 July 2010
conference, held at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s brand new visitor facilities, will celebrate the region’s achievements in securing Games-related business contracts

1001 Inventions - Manchester success story travels to Istanbul and beyond
22 July 2010
exhibition, managed, designed and created in Manchester - 1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World – is about to set sail once more on a global voyage

Longford Residents Celebrate the Opening of their new Community Garden
22 July 2010
Residents in Longford, Warrington, celebrated the opening of their new community garden this week with live music, art workshops and a falconry display.

Stong performance for NWDA
20 July 2010
The response of the NWDA to the economic downturn has been rated as Strong following an Independent Supplementary Review, carried out by the NAO on behalf of the government.

Construction gets underway at Saints new Stadium
19 July 2010
Saints Rugby League Club’s dream of moving into a new purpose-built stadium will now become reality following the letting of the construction contract.

Athletes get ready to test their mettle in Ironman challenge
16 July 2010
Athletes and spectators are gearing up for an incredible day in sport when the Ironman UK triathlon returns to England’s Northwest on Sunday August 1.

Northwest continues to lead the way for Foreign Direct Investment success
14 July 2010
Investment by overseas companies created or safeguarded 13,486 jobs in the Northwest over the last year, UK Trade & Investment and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) announced today.

Envirenergy North West 2010 attracts over 400 delegates
13 July 2010
On the 24th June this year’s Envirenergy turned out to be a huge success attracting a record 440 delegates and 49 companies exhibiting at the event. Envirenergy North West 2010, managed by Envirolink Northwest is the region’s flagship energy and environmental management conference presenting innovative technologies and best practice.

Plans for a revitalised Ancoats
13 July 2010
The regeneration of Ancoats has taken a major step forward after the NWDA instructed Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to take Jactin House to the market for sale.

Five new members join Women’s Enterprise Forum
12 July 2010
The Northwest Women’s Enterprise Forum (NWWEF) has welcomed five new business members to the forum.

Dominant Textile expands into the Northwest
09 July 2010
Dominant Textile, a Turkish technical textile company, is to open its first UK office in Manchester creating 10 jobs over the next five years.

Heat Trace awarded £182,000 Grant for Business Investment
08 July 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has awarded a £182,000 Grants for Business Investment (GBI) to Heat Trace Ltd based in Frodsham.

Design Review adds £34 million to the value of planned projects in the Northwest
08 July 2010
New research indicates value of £34 million may be added to 144 development schemes by Places Matter! programme.

MP Visits WICED Development
08 July 2010
Local Member of Parliament Louise Ellman took time out earlier this month to survey the progress being made on the multi-million pound development of the brand new Womens International Centre for Economic Development (WICED).

Ringing the changes at Warrington contact centre
08 July 2010
NEW OWNERS HEROTSC PLAN 200 MORE JOBS FOR 600-SEAT OPERATION THE company which took over one of Warrington‘s biggest contact centres this month hopes to increase the 600-strong workforce by over 30 per cent. HEROtsc, the UK’s fourth largest operator in the UK contact centre sector, officially took control of the former Vodafone in-house operation in Birchwood Park on July 1 as part of a six-year strategic partnership between the two companies.

Lowther appoints commercial director
07 July 2010
The Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Mercer as Commercial Director for the ambitious project to open the ruin of Lowther Castle and its abandoned hidden gardens near Penrith in the Lake District National Park.

New £1.4m greenway is officially open
06 July 2010
LANCASHIRE'S latest dedicated off-road route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders has been officially unveiled. The £1.4 million Padiham Greenway runs along a former railway line through the centre of Padiham and forms part of a longer route proposed between Great Harwood and Burnley. The scheme has transformed a derelict railway line that suffered from flytipping, litter and vandalism into an attractive Greenway linking housing areas with Padiham Town Centre and Padiham Memorial Park. In the central area of the site a bridge and embankments have been demolished and new railings and lowered stone walls built to improve visibility and connections between communities on either side of the Greenway.

Software cuts nuclear clean-up costs
02 July 2010
Structure Vision Ltd, based in the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus a leading provider of engineering software for the Particle Analysis and Nuclear Decommissioning markets, released their NuPlant™ software.

£1 million bonus for the city this weekend
01 July 2010
Chester is to receive an economic bonus this weekend exceeding £1 million as the Charles Stanley British Masters arrives in the city bringing with it thousands of spectators to the Roodee for the international competition.

England Netball and Manchester City Council bid to host World Netball Championships 2015
01 July 2010
England Netball and Manchester City Council have presented the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) with their bid to host the World Netball Championships in 2015.

Work starts on JD Sports warehouse on Kingsway Business Park
01 July 2010
Work is underway on one of the biggest warehouses to be built in the Northwest over the last 10 years.

June

British Business Angels bring 2010 Conference to England’s Northwest
30 June 2010
British Business Angels bring 2010 Conference to England’s Northwest This year’s British Business Angel Association (BBAA) two day Conference and Awards will take place in England’s Northwest. Supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) the BBAA Conference and Awards will commence on Tuesday 13th July with the Awards Ceremony, welcoming almost 200 guests, including early stage investors, fund managers and small business owners.

Northwest Foreign Direct Investment programme provides massive return
30 June 2010
findings of an independent interim evaluation of the Agency’s overseas inward investment and lead generation activities. The ekosgen, Lambert Smith Hampton report has found an outstanding return on the NWDA’s investment

£1.5m for advancing Carlisle's Roman heritage
29 June 2010
The Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) today confirmed over £1½ million of investment to help boost Carlisle’s appeal as a heritage tourism destination.

Go See This Website Launched
29 June 2010
Planning your weekend in Manchester just got easier with the launch of Go See This (http://www.goseethis.com), a new comprehensive online guide to what’s going on in Greater Manchester. The site will also see Manchester leading the way internationally, as it becomes the first major city to introduce integrated online ticketing across its venues.

NWDA High Growth Programme creates 200 jobs in one month
29 June 2010
High Growth Programme, a three year £10m initiative funded by the NWDA and the Northwest ERDF programme and in May 2010 the programme created a record 200 new jobs in one month.

Merseyside children celebrate the launch of Mab Lane Community Woodland with mass wildflower balloon release
29 June 2010
School children from all over West Derby, Liverpool came together this morning (Tuesday June 29) to celebrate the opening of Mab Lane Community Woodland with a mass wildflower balloon release.

The Point at Old Trafford Cricket Ground is open for business
28 June 2010
The new £12 million conference and events venue, The Point, was officially opened today with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the famous Old Trafford pitch.

Innovators shine at the Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards
25 June 2010
Individuals and companies flying the flag for energy innovation and sustainability have been honoured at the Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards.

NWDA Legal Team win at The Lawyer Awards 2010
25 June 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) legal team have scooped a much sought after national award at this year’s prestigious Lawyer Awards. 1400 of the best legal minds in the industry gathered together to watch Michael McIntyre present the awards at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The NWDA’s legal team were announced the winner of the In House Public Sector Team of the Year 2010.

Business Forum Launched to develop Railway Engineering Skills
25 June 2010
More than twenty representatives from railway industry employers in the Northwest, particularly the Crewe area, attended the first specialist business forum held on 16th June.

A Proud History, A Brilliant Future - Mersey Maritime Summit
24 June 2010
A PROUD HISTORY, A BRILLIANT FUTURE Business leaders from some of Merseyside’s foremost Maritime Sector companies gathered together last week to hear sector representative organisation Mersey Maritime set out its plans for the future. Over 100 people attended the two hour summit meeting at the Leverhulme Hotel in Port Sunlight last Thursday evening (June 10, 2010), in which Mersey Maritime - the most successful cluster organisations of its kind in the UK - highlighted key milestones from its first seven years, and presented a blueprint for moving forward.

Northwest Food and Drink sector receives £8m boost
24 June 2010
Northwest Food and Drink sector receives £8m boost The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have approved £8.1m to support the growth of one of the regions priority sectors. The funding (£4m from private sector partners and the NWDA, matched with £4m ERDF) has been approved to stimulate and develop the higher-added-value sub-sectors of the region’s food and drink economy, while ensuring a safe and sustainable environment in which to grow.

Pharmapac completes final hurdle with support from NWDA
24 June 2010
Pharmapac UK Ltd, based in Birkenhead, has been awarded the final instalment of a £215,000 grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), which has enabled them to increase productivity and expand the workforce after successfully winning new business.

£1.5m investment to bring The Florrie back to life
24 June 2010
£1.5m investment to bring The Florrie back to life A derelict Grade II listed building in Dingle, Liverpool, is to be given a new lease of life following confirmation of £1.5 million investment from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Florence Institute (The Florrie), a former boys’ institute on Mill Street, is currently in a state of disrepair. The investment from ERDF, along with an additional £536,000 from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), will complete a funding package to take forward its transformation into a thriving business and community centre.

Revealed: The Keys To A Massive Redevelopment Of Crewe
23 June 2010
Top consultants advising Cheshire East Council have identified what they believe needs to be done to ‘unlock’ the huge potential of Crewe to become an economic powerhouse. The council is working with partners and key stakeholders to turn the town and surrounding area into a leading player in Britain’s 21st century economy. Now Cheshire East Council’s consultants have identified how the council and other partner agencies can unlock what they see as the tremendous potential of Crewe.

Julia Bradbury to unveil new inspirational Cumbria Information Centre
22 June 2010
Learn how to fly an eagle, go gorge scrambling, make your own smokery or take a food safari with a celebrity c hef are just a few of the activities you can find out about and book at a brand new Cumbria Information Centre, which is being opened at the Rheged Centre, by Julia Bradbury this Wednesday.

Future Looks Bright for Digital Projection
21 June 2010
High-tech company, Digital Projection has been awarded £237,762 from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to develop an LED-based projector with a level of brightness that exceeds existing LED projectors.

Green skills needed for 748,000 employees across England’s Northwest
21 June 2010
Up to a quarter of the workforce in England’s Northwest will need to green their skills by 2020 as the region responds to climate change by building a low carbon economy. A study, published today by the North West Climate Change Partnership, reveals how 748,000 employees across the region will need some level of skills enhancement in order to make the transition to a low carbon economy.

Barrow Link Road Opens
18 June 2010
Barrow Borough Council has been working to improve access to employment sites in Barrow which will help to regenerate the economy and employment in the area.

Manchester's new visitor information centre
18 June 2010
Manchester’s new Visitor Information Centre (MVIC) – the first point of call for hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city - was officially opened this morning by Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council.

Next Generation Child Protection for Mobile Social Networking
16 June 2010
Isis Forensics, a Lancaster University spin out company based in InfoLab21, with the support of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and InfoLab21’s Knowledge Business Centre, has launched a £54,000 Research and Development project to develop next generation child protection technologies that can be run on mobile phones.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and NWDA team-up to invest in local Game Development talent
16 June 2010
NWDA and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have jointly invested £2m in a regional staff training and development programme.

Fund Managers announced for The £185m North West Fund
15 June 2010
Northwest Business Finance Ltd with support from the NWDA and the ERDF announce the successful fund managers for The North West Fund.

Cheshire tourism award winners announced
14 June 2010
The remarkable achievements of Cheshire’s top-performing tourism businesses were celebrated in style at this year’s impressive Visit Chester & Cheshire Annual Awards evening.

TMP tourism award winners announced
11 June 2010
The very best businesses in Liverpool City Region’s thriving Visitor Economy have been honoured at the prestigious TMP Tourism Awards.

Lancashire tourism award winners
10 June 2010
The winners of the 2010/11 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards took centre stage yesterday, with TV wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, host of the tourist board’s most hotly contested awards ceremony to date, held at the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel, near Accrington.

£1m digital skills training
08 June 2010
Vision+Media has been awarded £1million by the NWDA to help prepare the region’s digital and creative professionals for the arrival of MediaCityUK.

NWDA ‘Grants for Business Investment’ generates £6 for every £1 spent
08 June 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) can reveal that in the latest financial year, 2009 / 2010, for every £1 it put into the Grants for Business Investment (GBI) scheme, over £6 was generated in private capital investment within England’s Northwest.

NWDA event at Expo
08 June 2010
World Expo, Shanghai 2010 hosted an Agri-Food event, organised by the NWDA, to showcase the Northwest’s world-leading research and expertise in the agri-food sector at the Liverpool Pavilion.

Art Attacks at ACC Liverpool
04 June 2010
ACC Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool have teamed up to host an innovative art display at ACC Liverpool, home to the BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena.

Northwest launched to Chinese travel trade
03 June 2010
Liverpool has been placed firmly on the Chinese tourist trail following the launch in Shanghai of the first ever dedicated North West of England tourism package to target the growing number of Chinese wanting to travel overseas.

Ice Plant tops out
02 June 2010
Once the beating heart of Italian Ancoats’ ice cream trade and later practice space to icons the Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets, a £12m transformation of one of the city’s historic gems has reached a milestone.

Cumbrian arts programme needs your votes for Best Arts Project
02 June 2010
Lakes Alive, a major programme of outdoor arts events in Cumbria, is calling on local people and visitors to help it win a poll to find the National Lottery’s Best Arts Project.

New international centre for women’s enterprise to be built in Liverpool
02 June 2010
A ground-breaking new international women’s business centre is to be built in Liverpool – the first of its kind globally.

May

Manchester Tourism Awards 2010 winners announced
28 May 2010
The winners of the Manchester Tourism Awards 2010 were revealed last night in an impressive ceremony held at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.

Research and Development Grant for Byotral Technology
27 May 2010
Manchester based, Byotral Technology Ltd has been awarded a £443,824 Grant for Research and Development by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to develop an innovative bio-medical product.

Cubic Motion faces success with NWDA Grant for Research and Development
27 May 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has awarded a £100,000 Grant for Research and Development to Cubic Motion to research a new technology that would revolutionise the way facial animation is created within the digital media industry.

The Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards Shortlist Announced
27 May 2010
The finalists of the Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards 2010 have today been announced.

New National Ad Campaign Sees Visitors On Right Track For ‘Eventful Escapes’ To Chester & Cheshire
27 May 2010
Tourism bosses in Chester and Cheshire are linking up with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains to launch their latest national advertising campaign, showcasing a new summer of events.

GRAND entrance for Carbon Ceramics Ltd
26 May 2010
Cheshire based Carbon Ceramics Ltd makes its entrance into the green materials market place with the support of a Grant for Research and Development awarded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Hammonds LLP supports the North West’s nuclear renaissance
26 May 2010
Businesses in the North West are being encouraged to find out how they could profit from the UK’s £70 billion decommissioning programme and the nuclear new-build strategy which is already underway.

University ‘nets’ pioneering new course
26 May 2010
Construction professionals across the UK are being invited to sign up to a ground-breaking new course.

Drive to reduce travel Carbon Emissions in England’s Northwest
25 May 2010
A new drive has been launched to help people in England’s Northwest reduce their travel costs and lower their carbon emissions from the way they travel.

Jodrell bank funding boost
21 May 2010
The NWDA and ERDF today confirmed funding of £3.1 million to kick-start the development of a new Science Discovery Centre at Manchester’s famous Jodrell Bank Observatory.

New East Manchester money mentors win top national award
21 May 2010
New East Manchester’s Money Mentors team has scooped Debt Team of the Year at the Institute of Money Advisers national Money Advice Performance Awards 2010.

TMP launches ad campaign
21 May 2010
Liverpool’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront and major cultural events programme is the focus of TMP’s latest national advertising campaign.

Visitmanchester.com
21 May 2010
A new destination website for Manchester has launched today, supported by a unique digital concept that will revolutionise the city’s online presence.

Evaluation report shows massive return for NWDA funded International Trade Programme
20 May 2010
Independent Interim Evaluation of the NWDA’s funding of the Northwest International Trade Programme. The DTZ report has found an excellent return on the NWDA’s £3m investment

Northwest Manufacturing Forum meet Secretary of State, Vince Cable at inaugural meeting
20 May 2010
The new Secretary of State for Business Innovation & Skills, Vince Cable visited the Northwest and the new Northwest Manufacturing Forum

NWDA provide £2 million to develop innovative carbon reducing technologies
19 May 2010
As part of the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is offering Small to Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) the chance to access a £2 million of Grant funding to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies that reduce carbon emissions.

Countdown to £26 million stadium
19 May 2010
The countdown has begun for Salford's £26 million community stadium - the largest single investment in sport in the city for decades - as work officially starts on site.

Funding for 216 businesses hit by Cumbrian floods
19 May 2010
Six months after Cumbria suffered devastating floods, some 216 businesses have received over £1million funding support from the NWDA.

Lord Coe counting down to BT Paralympic World Cup
19 May 2010
Lord Sebastian Coe has spoken of his hopes for the GB and international athletes who will compete at the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

NWDA awards four ‘Proof of Market’ Grants
18 May 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has awarded four ‘Proof of Market Grants’ to the value of £159,146 to companies throughout the region.

April

Northwest Interim Loan Fund completes first loans
05 April 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is delighted to announce the first Interim Loan awards just days after the first Interim equity investment was announced.

£3.4 m ERDF for Museum of Liverpool
01 April 2010
The Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme is pleased to announce £3.4 million of funding to support the creation of four exciting exhibition spaces at the new Museum of Liverpool.

Cimex opens in Manchester
01 April 2010
Leading digital agency, Cimex will open its first regional office in Manchester as part of the Hello soft landing scheme

RDAs welcome renewed Government commitment to climate change
01 April 2010
England’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have today welcomed plans which set out how every major Government department will address the challenge of climate change in the UK.

James Walker works with NWDA to commit to Cumbria
01 April 2010
The largest employer in Cockermouth, James Walker & Co, has confirmed its commitment to the town following support from the NWDA.

New East Manchester announces launch of 2010 EnterPrize competition
01 April 2010
The EnterPrize awards, an annual competition which encourages enterprise within east Manchester whilst recognising and rewarding talented businesses and entrepreneurs will again be taking place this year, organisers have announced.

New future for Salford mill
01 April 2010
A former mill in Swinton will be converted into a modern office and call centre facility with space for over 900 people following investment from the NWDA.

March

25th Hour campaign inspires London 2012 legacy
31 March 2010
A nationwide campaign which aims to use the inspirational power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to motivate the British public to give time in their communities was unveiled today.

Full house at multi-million pound Cockermouth business park
31 March 2010
A residential care home and an office building are the final developments to take place on the £8.15million Lakeland Business Park, until recently owned by the NWDA.

Agency grant supports major training programme at Leyland Trucks
31 March 2010
£1 million from NWDA to Leyland Trucks towards a £2.1 million two-year training programme for all employees.

£100 Million Northwest Urban Investment Fund now seeking interested partners
31 March 2010
The European Investment Bank with support from the NWDA and ERDF is launching a Call for Expressions of Interest with the aim of selecting two Urban Development Funds

Blackpool's landmark attractions set to benefit from £38.9 million investment
30 March 2010
Two of Blackpool’s most iconic visitor attractions, Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens complex, are to get a major facelift and redevelopment as part of a groundbreaking £38.9 million project.

Liverpool Wealth Management
30 March 2010
Liverpool’s Wealth Management industry is the strongest outside of London, a report by a leading independent industry benchmarking firm has concluded.

New Tourism Commission calls on industry to shape the debate
30 March 2010
A new, independent committee with the aim of boosting the region’s visitor economy is calling on tourism businesses and professionals to help shape the agenda for tourism in the Northwest.

VCLF update
30 March 2010
Progress on the structure of the new long term Venture Capital and Loan Fund (VCLF) and the first investment from the Interim VCLF

Chester Renaissance Chairman steps aside
29 March 2010
Shane Flynn, Chairman of Chester Renaissance and former Chief Executive of MBNA Europe in Chester has announced that he will step aside later this year.

Green energy with added financial rewards
29 March 2010
Envirolink Northwest is welcoming the launch of feed-in tariffs (FIT), a new government scheme designed to benefit businesses across the UK with financial and environmental rewards.

INTERREG - Major European event comes to Manchester
29 March 2010
INTERREG two-day European conference heading for Manchester Central in December this year which will un-lock the requirements and open the door to projects seeking a share of a €355m European Programme.

Final ingredient is added to University’s Creative Campus as new £7.5m Capstone building is officially declared open
29 March 2010
The long-awaited Capstone building at Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus has been officially declared open.

Renewable Heat Technologies to generate cost savings for SMEs
29 March 2010
SMEs looking to invest in the latest Renewable Heat Technologies are being given a helping hand by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of the £4.3 million Grant for Improving Your Resource Efficiency.

Countdown to Bury Transport Museum reopening
26 March 2010
The final touches are being applied to the newly refurbished Bury Transport Museum, in preparation for its reopening by The Duke of Gloucester on Friday 26 March 2010.

Demolition of former Border TV site begins
26 March 2010
The demolition of Border Television’s former headquarters has begun.

NWDA aims to make super-fast broadband a reality for the Northwest
26 March 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has launched a consultation to seek feedback on a proposed strategy for making Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband a reality in the Northwest.

Pennine Lancashire leaders celebrate funding confirmation
26 March 2010
Pennine Lancashire leaders are celebrating following the confirmation of an £84 million investment package to support improvements to housing across Pennine Lancashire and to boost the area’s economy.

SAFC Hitech well positioned for high-brightness led manufacturing boom
26 March 2010
SAFC Hitech®, a business segment within SAFC®, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich® Group, today announced plans to invest $2m (approximately £1.2m) in expanding production of trimethylgallium (TMG) at its Bromborough, Wirral, UK manufacturing plant.

NWDA welcomes major transport investment
26 March 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has welcomed today’s announcement that the Department for Transport is to invest £75 million to boost key transport links in the Northwest.

Funding secured for £150m community campus
25 March 2010
Plans for a University community campus in Hulme have been given a £28.5 million thumbs up.

Two Northwest cluster organisations pick up national ‘Cluster Mark’ Awards
25 March 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is delighted to announce that two Northwest cluster organisations have received national recognition at the UK’s first-ever "Cluster Marks" ceremony held in London last night.

Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus welcomes Hello Northwest’s first tenant
25 March 2010
German based company P3 Igenieurgesellschaft mbH has set up a UK base at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus through the Hello Northwest scheme.

Boost for Knowsley industrial park
24 March 2010
A review is to be carried out to boost the role of one of the region’s biggest commercial areas – Knowsley Industrial Park.

Reclamation project to complete the Huncoat Greenway
24 March 2010
Work costing around £320,000 to create a greenway through an area of derelict land at Within Grove, Huncoat is now underway.

Rubber company’s bumper boost
24 March 2010
Ley Rubber Ltd is the latest recipient of the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Grant for Business Investment (GBI), with £100,000 awarded to the Liverpool business.

New road to unlock Barrow business park potential
23 March 2010
A new £5 million access road to serve Waterfront Business Park in Barrow has been officially opened by town MP, the Rt Hon John Hutton.

Greater Manchester to create a forest in the city
22 March 2010
Greater Manchester is a step closer to getting a natural oasis in the city following today’s (22.3.10) announcement that up to £4.9 million regeneration funding could be made available from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

NWDA awards first Proof of Market grant
22 March 2010
As part of the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Grant for Research and Development (GRAND Award), the first £18,878 Proof of Market grant has been awarded to start up company Qualoria Ltd.

National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering – Cheshire & Warrington Response
19 March 2010
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that they will be supporting and backing the establishment of a National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering.

National Recognition for Mersey Waterfront
18 March 2010
Mersey Waterfront’s ‘Pride in our Promenades’ has won the ‘Partnership’ award at the BURA Waterways Renaissance Awards 2010.

England’s first renewable energy fund for rural communities opens in the Northwest
18 March 2010
A new £4 million fund – the first of its kind in the country - has been launched to support renewable energy projects in rural areas across England’s Northwest.

Sharp Project funding
17 March 2010
£6.3million announced for The Sharp Project from NWDA and ERDF.

Atlantic Gateway Strategy launched
16 March 2010
An historic agreement has been made to unlock the global growth potential of the Northwest and create an economic zone of international significance.

‘Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall’ event hailed blazing success
16 March 2010
Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall on Saturday 13 March was a blazing success according to the thousand volunteer Illuminators who took part in the event and the spectators who came to watch it.

EMBF Northwest awards 2010 winners
12 March 2010
The 2010 Ethnic Minority Business Awards have been announced.

Work starts on New Greenway for Preston
12 March 2010
Work is starting on a new £750,000 footpath and cycleway in Preston that will create a more environmentally-friendly way to get around the city.

Carlisle College Building Blocks in Place
11 March 2010
Carlisle College is about to start work on building a new £9M facility to replace redundant buildings on the Victoria Road site.

Northwest Manufacturing Forum announced
11 March 2010
New Manufacturing Forum for the Northwest. Its members will act as ambassadors for this vital Northwest sector

The Big Bang explodes in Manchester
10 March 2010
The Big Bang, the UK’s national fair celebrating young people’s achievements in science and engineering, starts today in Manchester.

New Visitor Centre arrives at Cheshire Oaks
10 March 2010
An innovative new visitor information centre has been unveiled at Cheshire Oaks. The centre offers a showcase for Cheshire’s visitor economy for more than seven million visitors who flock to the outlet village each year.

Group Mentoring available to small northwest businesses
10 March 2010
From today small businesses across the Northwest can benefit from free group mentoring to help improve their business performance, as the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) launches the second phase of its Business Mentoring programme.

Hadrian's Wall to be illuminated
09 March 2010
Hadrian’s Wall will take centre stage later this week when it is illuminated by a line of lights stretching from coast to coast, with the help of more than a thousand volunteers.

£4.4million from NWDA for New Islington
05 March 2010
The NWDA is granting £4.4million for the transformation of New Islington on the edge of Manchester city centre.

STEPS TO A SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINT
05 March 2010
With the introductory phase of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme due to begin in April, large businesses with high CO2 emissions are already setting about reducing their carbon footprint. By becoming more energy efficient, they can reduce the amount of CO2 emission allowances they need to purchase and increase the likelihood that they will be repaid more than they pay out. Smaller businesses that will not be affected by the mandatory scheme can also reap rewards by going green.

Liverpool Cathedral late night opening
05 March 2010
Liverpool Cathedral’s tower is to re-open for late night viewings, once again giving visitors the chance to experience breathtaking views of the city.

People's History Museum re-opens
05 March 2010
Friday 5 March sees the official opening of the People’s History Museum in Manchester with the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP.

Technology options put forward to generate tidal power from the Mersey Estuary
05 March 2010
The Mersey Tidal Power project has passed a notable milestone with the completion of the first stage of a major feasibility study designed to select a preferred scheme for generating electricity from the tides within the Mersey Estuary.

Rural Community Programme Hailed a Success in the Northwest
05 March 2010
A two-year project supporting rural communities in the Northwest of England has created or safeguarded 70 jobs and supported 57 social enterprises.

Sankey Canal Phase 1 Improvements – New Funding award
05 March 2010
A pilot scheme to regenerate Sankey Canal has received a further funding boost this week.

Work starts on new Police Divisional HQ in east Manchester
05 March 2010
Work started today (March 5th, 2010) on the new £35m Divisional Headquarters for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at Central Park in Newton Heath in east Manchester.

The Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards Launched
04 March 2010
The search is on to find the UK’s most innovative energy products and services.

Climate Change report reveals good public awareness but missed opportunities
04 March 2010
The Northwest Climate Change Partnership has conducted its largest, most comprehensive study to date into the region’s perceptions of climate change – investigating the opinions of over 2,500 businesses and 400 members of the public.

Construction begins on next phase of Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus
03 March 2010
Construction of a major new facility for high-tech businesses, Vanguard House, began officially this week on the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC).

£10.8million kick-starts Chapel Street redevelopment
02 March 2010
The NWDA is granting £10.76million to launch the redevelopment of the Chapel Street area in Salford.

New strategy to boost Northwest sport sector
02 March 2010
A new framework for the development of the sport business sector over the next ten years has been launched today (2nd March 2010) by the NWDA.

Searching for our region’s green business heroes - Northwest Business Environment Awards 2010
02 March 2010
Northwest companies that are making environmental excellence part of their business success can now enter the Northwest Business Environment Awards 2010.

Manufacturing Week
01 March 2010
The NWDA and partners including the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, are celebrating manufacturing, as the EEF brings a major conference to the region for Manufacturing Week

National Business Survey highlights increased business optimism for 2010
01 March 2010
As Manufacturing Week launches today, 1 March 2010, the largest survey of businesses in England and Northern Ireland has revealed that manufacturers have the most positive outlook for the next year, compared to other sectors.

Northwest Regional Development Agency Board Members appointed
01 March 2010
Rosie Winterton, Minister for Regional Economic Coordination, today announced two new business appointments and one trade union appointment to the Board of the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Sustainable manufacturing – reduces costs and saves resources
01 March 2010
Many people think that sustainable manufacturing is just simply all about protecting the environment. However, thanks to the Manufacturing Advisory Service and its partners the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and ENWORKS, manufacturers in the North West are beginning to realise the many business benefits of becoming more resource efficient overall.

February

EMBF Northwest Awards 2010 shortlist
26 February 2010
The 2010 Northwest Ethnic Minority Business Forum Awards are now in full swing, with the shortlist announced today.

Defence Minister To Address Defence Industry NW 2010 Conference
25 February 2010
The Defence Industry NW 2010 Conference in Manchester at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport on 5th March 2010.

Northwest ready to help drive the national recovery
25 February 2010
A new report by the Smith Institute ‘The future of the North West’

Making it Happen: Transforming Waste & Resource Use in England’s Northwest
25 February 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) together with 4NW, the Leaders Board for England’s Northwest, today outlined a vision to position England’s Northwest as one of the most effective and innovative regions in the UK for waste management practices.

Regional business speaks up
24 February 2010
As part of Tuesday’s event in Westminster, Lunar Caravans, a Lancashire-based company, supported the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) describing how access to finance has ensured business continued amidst the economic downturn.

Northwest business leaders asked ‘Have you got the M Factor’?
24 February 2010
The search is on to find the region’s top business leaders who would like to play a role in nurturing, guiding and developing talent in business communities across England’s Northwest.

University of Manchester to lead new £16 million Centre for Nuclear Energy Technology
23 February 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is to invest £4.4 million towards the establishment of a £16 million centre that will support the growth of the region’s nuclear energy industry and position the Northwest as a region of global nuclear capability.

Region's food and drink companies invited to enter prestigious awards
23 February 2010
Food and drink companies from across the Northwest are being invited to enter the fifth annual Food Northwest Awards and the Fine Food Northwest Awards 2010.

Business, government must work together to secure global recovery: Prime Minister says
23 February 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that international business and government should work together to secure a global recovery in 2010.

New promenade for The Quays
23 February 2010
A new public promenade will complete the pedestrian route around Salford and Trafford Quays following investment from the NWDA.

New Northwest Strategy out for debate in Greater Manchester
23 February 2010
Businesses and organisations from across the public, private and third sectors in Greater Manchester have the opportunity to debate and contribute to the development of the new Northwest Strategy (RS2010) today (23rd February), as part of a region wide consultation programme.

NW businesses shortlisted for tourism 'Oscars'
23 February 2010
Seven businesses from England’s Northwest have been shortlisted for some of the tourism industry’s highest accolades in the annual Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. Organised annually by Visit England, the awards recognise the best of the country’s tourism businesses and professionals.

Duddon Estuary Tidal Energy Study underway
22 February 2010
A study is underway to explore options for tidal energy generation across the Duddon Estuary in South Cumbria. Tidal barrages, fences, reefs and other innovative technologies will all be considered along with the potential for a road link between Barrow-in-Furness and Millom at the southern tip of Britain’s Energy Coast™.

Engineering firm is flying high
19 February 2010
A £75,000 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) has been awarded to a Burnley engineering company by the NWDA.

Rochdale's new community woodland completed
18 February 2010
Rochdale’s new community woodland is now fully open to the public, thanks to the Forestry Commission's latest green makeover project in the town.

Lakes Alive 2010 programme announced
18 February 2010
One of Britain’s biggest and most innovative seasons of outdoor arts events will take place across Cumbria again this spring and summer, set against the county’s beautiful and varied landscape and heritage.

Restoration of Liverpool’s Festival Gardens about to begin
16 February 2010
The £3.7m restoration of Liverpool’s International Garden Festival site is finally set to begin almost 26 years after the event first opened to the public.

EEF launches ‘Manufacturing Week’
16 February 2010
EEF, the manufacturers' organisation has today launched a week long campaign to promote manufacturing in the North West.

Northern Hub report welcomed
16 February 2010
Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) have welcomed the publication of Network Rail’s Northern Hub report, which sets out options to tackle rail congestion in the city region's rail network and outlines the changes needed to improve rail services across the North of England for business and leisure travellers.

TV first for Cumbria Tourism
16 February 2010
Cumbria Tourism will shortly be embarking upon a new television advertising campaign for the first time in its history.

Northwest business support organisations receive new international quality standard
16 February 2010
Eight business support organisations across the Northwest have been awarded a new quality standard for women’s enterprise.

England’s Northwest prepares for smarter, carbon-free future
12 February 2010
Robert Hough, Chair of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), today opened the third annual Climate Change Conference in Manchester, highlighting the region’s key strengths and opportunities for business as part of a low-carbon economy.

Shanaze Reade breaks new ground as work starts on National Indoor BMX Centre
12 February 2010
Olympic BMXer, Shanaze Reade joined school children from Ashbury Meadow Community School in Beswick, east Manchester, for a ground-breaking ceremony as work starts to build the UK’s first purpose built in-door BMX track.

Lakes Alive 2009 evaluation
11 February 2010
The Lakes Alive street arts events in Cumbria have been a big hit with local people and visitors as well as generating £3 million of extra spending in the county, according to an independent report published this week.

Rochdale sites spruced up in preparation for investment
11 February 2010
Two overgrown and untidy sites that have been prone to littering are getting a major improvement as part of the ‘Brighter Futures’ regeneration of the Oldham Road and canal side area.

TMP Director of Visitor Economy
11 February 2010
Liverpool City Region’s official tourist board, TMP, has appointed a new director to oversee development of the area’s £1.3bn a year Visitor Economy.

NWDA adds nutrients for growth with GBI grant
10 February 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has awarded a £126,750 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) to CNP Professional – a Denton based sales, marketing and distribution company for sports nutritional products.

New Northwest Strategy out for debate in Lancashire
09 February 2010
Businesses and organisations from across the public, private and third sectors in Lancashire have the opportunity to debate and contribute to the development of the new Northwest Strategy (RS2010) today (9th February), as part of a region wide consultation programme.

£3.9m for Brand New Brighton
08 February 2010
Plans for the redevelopment of New Brighton have been boosted by a £3.9 million investment from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Final call for Return to Work scheme
08 February 2010
The successful Return to Work scheme has funding to the end of June 2010 and the team at CREA is keen to contact potential clients to make the most of the support that is available.

Free legal advice available in east Manchester
08 February 2010
East Manchester residents can now benefit from free legal advice.

Gosselin make Lancashire town first UK base
08 February 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has awarded a £290,000 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) to a major European manufacturer to establish a UK base in Blackburn, creating 37 new jobs.

Liverpool pioneers regional community renewable energy fund
08 February 2010
Liverpool City Council (LCC) in partnership with Foundation, a climate fund for the North West, has today (Monday, February 8th) become the first local authority in England’s North West to launch a community renewable power initiative that will deliver measurable carbon savings.

New East Manchester appoints new Chairman
08 February 2010
Simon Bate, Director at Ask Developments, has been appointed chairman of urban regeneration company, New East Manchester (NEM) replacing Robert Hough who held the position for seven years.

New Northwest Strategy out for debate in Cumbria
08 February 2010
Businesses and organisations from across the public, private and third sectors in Cumbria will have the opportunity to debate and contribute to the development of the new Northwest Strategy (RS2010) today (8th February), as part of a region wide consultation programme.

1,500 NW Teens challenge Politicians at Manchester Event
04 February 2010
Today, over 1,500 young people (14-19 years old) from across the North West will meet at Manchester Opera House to challenge high profile politicians and opinion-formers on Politics, Economics and Citizenship. The interactive event, the first of its kind outside London, is hosted by Jane Hill (BBC Newsreader) and at the event, Dawn Butler MP (Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement), will launch the Government Agenda for Youth Engagement.

2011 Census operations site confirmed for Trafford
03 February 2010
ONS confirmed that the data capture operation behind the next census on 27 March 2011 will take place in Trafford, Greater Manchester, creating 1,300 new jobs

Solway Energy Gateway - Results from feasibility study launched
03 February 2010
Located on the border between Scotland and England, the Solway Firth has been at the centre of an extensive Feasibility Study, to investigate the potential of generating renewable energy from the tidal resource within the estuary.

NWDA approves funding to provide the green light for research facility at MediaCityUK
02 February 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), today confirmed funding which is crucial in drawing down millions of pounds of research funding and providing the green light for an exciting new research facility at MediaCityUK.

Manchester has UK’s most popular science festival
02 February 2010
Over 100,000 people flocked to the 2009 Manchester Science Festival (MSF) – making it the most popular event of its type in the UK.

New Northwest Strategy out for debate in Merseyside
02 February 2010
Businesses and organisations from across the public, private and third sectors in Merseyside have the opportunity to debate and contribute to the development of the new Northwest Strategy (RS2010) today (2nd February), as part of a region wide consultation programme.

Wind energy boost for north of England to the tune of £3 million
02 February 2010
The Northern Wind Innovation Programme (NWIP) has announced the names of companies participating in newly formed consortia set to benefit from a share of £3 million, specifically aimed at stimulating innovation and technological developments for the offshore wind industry in the North of England.

New PageOver 50 per cent of Teens want a political voice
02 February 2010
With a General Election due within the next four months, only one-fifth (19 per cent) of teenagers in a new survey of over 5,500 young people felt they had any way to influence political decision-making. But if there was a General Election now and they were able to vote, over half (54 per cent) of young people say they would vote.

Hoylake to host 2012 Women's Open
01 February 2010
Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake in Wirral is today announced as the host venue for the 2012 Ricoh Women’s British Open, the first time that the Club has hosted this prestigious Championship.

New Northwest Strategy out for debate in Cheshire and Warrington
01 February 2010
Businesses and organisations from across the public, private and third sectors in Cheshire and Warrington will have the opportunity to debate and inform the development of the new Northwest Strategy today (1st February), as the first of five sub-regional consultation events gets underway.

NWDA support for RFD Beaufort
01 February 2010
A £103,462 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) awarded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) will create 15 jobs at RFD Beaufort Ltd in Birkenhead, securing the long term future of the company.

Northwest Women in Business Awards 2010 winners announced
01 February 2010
The winners of the Northwest Women in Business Awards 2010 have been revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at Ribby Hall in Lancashire on Friday (29th January).

January

Olympics chief sees how the Northwest is building London 2012
29 January 2010
Director General of the Government Olympic Executive, Jeremy Beeton, had an opportunity to see first-hand how Northwest businesses are helping to build the London 2012 Olympic Games, in a visit to Greater Manchester.

CableSense secures £213K from NWDA
27 January 2010
Lancaster based hi-tech start-up CableSense, has announced that it has been awarded a £213K Grant for Research and Development by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Flood Recovery Grant offers top £570,000
27 January 2010
With a flurry of applications received last week, the amount of offers made under the NWDA's Flood Recovery Grant Scheme now stands at £572,206.

Northwest unveils new 12 months free office space for business investors
25 January 2010
The Northwest is rolling out the red carpet to investors with a new soft landing scheme called Hello offering free office space in serviced accommodation for 12 months, across the region.

Garstang TIC opened
22 January 2010
The doors of Garstang's new and improved Tourist Information Centre will be flung open on 27 January.

Lord Mandelson says 'Cumbria is open for business'
22 January 2010
Lord Mandelson is visiting Cumbria today to see how the area is open for business again.

Procurement process commences for long term VCLF for the Northwest
21 January 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency on behalf of a new holding company Northwest Business Finance Ltd has today released the bidding documents to open up the competitive tender process for companies wishing to be part of one of the largest public sector Venture Capital and Loan Funds in Europe.

New Chair and MD to Improve Prosperity in Cheshire & Warrington
20 January 2010
A new era of partnership working is about to become a reality in Cheshire and Warrington with the appointment of two key posts to take forward a new Commission.

Northern Rail Cup launched as sponsor agrees new deal
20 January 2010
The 2010 Northern Rail Cup was launched today with news that the rail operator has agreed a new and enhanced contract until the end of 2012.

Success Through People
20 January 2010
The Northwest’s five regional Tourist Boards have come together to invite service industry professionals to a conference in St.Helens aimed at developing tourism skills and business opportunities.

Northwest businesses continue to strike London 2012 gold
18 January 2010
As CompeteFor, the London 2012 online 'business dating' website, reaches its second birthday, figures show that 114 Northwest companies have been successful in winning 165 London 2012-related business contracts.

University of Liverpool to lead new Virtual Engineering Centre
18 January 2010
The region’s aerospace sector is set to benefit from a new centre for virtual engineering at Daresbury Laboratory, following the confirmation of a £5.3 million investment.

£1.1million supports rural businesses
14 January 2010
Rural businesses and farmers in Greater Manchester are being urged to take advantage of a £1.1million fund managed by the NWDA.

Lord Mandelson welcomes £290 million Spanish investment to UK
13 January 2010
Spanish paper and packaging group SAICA has chosen to invest £290 million to build a world-leading recycled paper mill in Trafford.

Partners for England tourism forum
13 January 2010
The NWDA, along with VisitEngland, the national tourist board, and regional tourism partners from across England will attend the Partners for England Forum in Manchester tomorrow, to finalise England’s groundbreaking new tourism strategy, setting the stage for a new era for tourism in England.

Energy Trust would bring power to the people
12 January 2010
A new trust that will bring power to the people by supporting community-owned renewable energy projects across Cumbria is being proposed.

NWDA Grant puts safety first for Advanced Engineering
12 January 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has agreed to a £140,000 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) to be awarded to TRaC EMC & Safety Ltd, safeguarding 6 existing jobs and creating 8 new roles.

Help for social enterprises
12 January 2010
A unique loan fund to help more social enterprises in the region with £500,000 from the NWDA and ERDF.

Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution rises to the challenge of creating a low carbon region
11 January 2010
A regional initiative to fast forward the Northwest towards a low carbon economy is forecast to make savings of more than 17,350 tonnes of CO2 emissions as well as safeguarding 75 jobs by challenging the Northwest to become a leader on climate change by 2020.

New figures reveal Liverpool 08 success
11 January 2010
Latest economic impact figures tracking the success of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008 reveal the City Region’s visitor economy is on target to be a £2bn a year sector by 2020.

Plasma Clean technology is pure genius
11 January 2010
Plasma Clean Limited, a hi-tech spin-out from the University of Manchester has been awarded a £112,829 Grant for Research and Development from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)

Lever Prize winner announced
08 January 2010
FutureEverything CIC has scooped this year’s prestigious £10,000 Lever Prize award.

Northwest economy poised for growth
08 January 2010
According to the predictions of the latest short-term forecast 2009-2012, produced by the Northwest Economic Forecasting Panel (REFP), the Northwest is poised for growth after a recession that was as deep as the panel expected.

Cumbria’s huge renewable energy potential revealed
07 January 2010
Cumbria is poised to make a substantial contribution towards Britain’s renewable energy targets and create thousands of new skilled jobs in the process, a unique new study commissioned by Cumbria Vision has revealed.

Consultation begins on new strategy for the Northwest
05 January 2010
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and 4NW, the Regional Leaders Board, have this week begun a region-wide consultation programme to inform the development of the Northwest’s new integrated Regional Strategy (RS2010).

Investing in England's Northwest (link opens in a new window)