More than £2m will be spent on adding more facilities to a 'world-class' sports village in Newark where hundreds of jobs are set to be created.
A number of all-weather football pitches and an athletics track opened at the YMCA Community and Activity Village, off Bowbridge Road, as part of the first phase of development.
Recent funding from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership will go towards building a community venue with a 300-seater conference and events space - and five digital suites for education and training.
Executive director of YMCA Newark and Sherwood, Todd Cauthorn, said: "We are deeply appreciative of the support given by D2N2.
"The funding is key to unlocking the next stages of the project, and, as a cornerstone to our ambitious plans in Newark and Sherwood, helps us to ensure we can get next pieces of the puzzle in place for both funding and the build.
"YMCA has supported people in Nottinghamshire for 150 years.
"We are exceptionally excited to continue to broaden the work YMCA does across Newark and Sherwood, where our innovative Community and Activity Village will drive sustainable, long-term social mobility by empowering children and families with a wealth of opportunities.”
Once the village is fully complete in December 2021, it will include art spaces, education programmes, healthcare suites, an 80-seater café, a nursery and community training kitchen.
It will also have a bouldering centre, complete with an Olympic-sized wall. Work is due to begin on-site next month.
The charity has said the development will create almost 300 local jobs by 2023.
D2N2 interim chair David Williams said: "D2N2 is firmly committed to improving the life chances of our residents so I’m delighted we are able to contribute to this vital scheme.
“As our communities recover from the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic, we need to ensure that we can all take part in the recovery and that no one is left behind.”
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, MP Luke Hall, said: “Through the Local Growth Fund, this Government is investing in projects which are making a real difference in our communities by delivering long-lasting benefits in terms of jobs, skills and economic growth.
“This £2.2m investment in Newark means the local community will have access to a new state-of-the-art community space, creating new jobs, increasing social mobility and empowering young people and families in the area.”
