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| Dairy firm repays £600,000 grant | Dairy firm repays £600,000 grant |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Funding worth £600,000 has been recovered after a dairy firm closed its doors with the loss of 115 jobs. | Funding worth £600,000 has been recovered after a dairy firm closed its doors with the loss of 115 jobs. |
| Dairygold Food Products shut its cheese packing plant at Felinfach, Ceredigion, in April 2006. | Dairygold Food Products shut its cheese packing plant at Felinfach, Ceredigion, in April 2006. |
| It was awarded a processing and marketing grant in 2002 to expand its packing lines but 18 months later the firm announced the factory's closure. | It was awarded a processing and marketing grant in 2002 to expand its packing lines but 18 months later the firm announced the factory's closure. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said the company had not fulfilled its conditions on grants. | The Welsh Assembly Government said the company had not fulfilled its conditions on grants. |
| In September 2006 the assembly government threatened legal action against the company to reclaim £663,528. | In September 2006 the assembly government threatened legal action against the company to reclaim £663,528. |
| Following the initiation of legal action, Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones announced £600,000 had been recovered. | Following the initiation of legal action, Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones announced £600,000 had been recovered. |
| 'More value' | 'More value' |
| Mr Jones said: "I am very pleased with the outcome of these long-running negotiations. We were determined that this public money should be repaid, as the company had not fulfilled its grant conditions. | Mr Jones said: "I am very pleased with the outcome of these long-running negotiations. We were determined that this public money should be repaid, as the company had not fulfilled its grant conditions. |
| "The Welsh Assembly Government remains committed to helping secure employment for those affected by the closure of the Dairygold plant." | "The Welsh Assembly Government remains committed to helping secure employment for those affected by the closure of the Dairygold plant." |
| He added support has been provided to Gweithgor Dyffryn Aeron, a community-led not-for-profit initiative to carry out a feasibility study into the potential for added value food production in the Aeron Valley. | He added support has been provided to Gweithgor Dyffryn Aeron, a community-led not-for-profit initiative to carry out a feasibility study into the potential for added value food production in the Aeron Valley. |
| Euros Lewis, a member of the taskforce said the co-operative was working on a model for rural communities which does not rely as much on inward investment. | |
| Machinery bought with the grant was sold on | |
| "This is a good example of a local community developing ideas for itself and working in partnership with local authorities and with the assembly government and taking on a situation which seemed quite hopeless two years ago," he said. | |
| Mr Lewis added that gaining £600,000 was significant for the development of their business plan. | |
| Plaid AM for Ceredigon, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, added: "Deciding to take legal action to recover the money was a last resort and followed many months of communication with the company to try to resolve the matter. | Plaid AM for Ceredigon, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, added: "Deciding to take legal action to recover the money was a last resort and followed many months of communication with the company to try to resolve the matter. |
| "I am eager to continue to see processors and farmers in Wales become more competitive, respond to consumer demand and add more value to their produce." | "I am eager to continue to see processors and farmers in Wales become more competitive, respond to consumer demand and add more value to their produce." |
| A BBC Radio Cymru programme found the machinery bought with the grant was sold on to the Kerrygold company, which is part-owned by Dairygold, and was being moved on to its packing plant in Leek, Staffordshire. | A BBC Radio Cymru programme found the machinery bought with the grant was sold on to the Kerrygold company, which is part-owned by Dairygold, and was being moved on to its packing plant in Leek, Staffordshire. |