East Sussex business owners can have a say about how £165 million of investment is spent.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP) is looking for project ideas that will deliver growth in the region.

The SE LEP is a private sector led partnership which represents businesses across East Sussex.

The money will provide new modern premises for small and medium sized firms or helping firms to grow through exporting, supporting key business sectors and helping small businesses to grow.

A spokeswoman for the SE LEP said: “This is the first opportunity that businesses in East Sussex have been able to truly influence the future priorities.

“We hope businesses will come forward with projects and we invite them to do so.

“We appreciate business finds this sort of process time-consuming and the jargon impenetrable but experience of previous projects has shown that useful work can be done.

“The documents so far are just a draft.

“There is plenty of opportunity to contribute and ensure that projects that will drive growth and jobs are supported.

“The dates will be released on our website shortly.”

The SE LEP’s draft European Union (EU) Structural Investment Fund Strategy sets out how it proposes to invest European funds totalling £165 million (€185.9 million) between 2014 and 2020.

EU money will be channelled towards projects that support innovation, productivity and enterprise and which enhance skills in the area.

SE LEP chairman Peter Jones said: “The South East Local Enterprise Partnership is Britain’s largest LEP and we have an ambition to match.

“Our fund proposals are just the start.

“We wish to work with our universities and colleges, supporting the technologies and businesses of the future, capturing local intellectual capital, facilitating technology transfer and providing the very best facilities and support for new spin-out businesses.

“The area is rich with opportunities for economic growth.”