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A fundamental aspect of re-invigorating and regenerating the West Midlands economy lies in ensuring that businesses have access to the finance they need to develop and grow. Working with partners, Advantage West Midlands is working hard to raise finance forbusinesses in the West Midlands face in obtaining the most appropriate type and amounts of finance they need to grow. At the beginning of 2002 a Regional Finance Forum was established. Its vision is to ensure that "innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth are not adversely affected due to a viable business being unable to access appropriate finance" and early in its work, it commissioned a report to identify what the key issues are. This led to the development of a Regional Access to Finance Framework. Priority is now being given to implementing each of the actions within the Framework in the most effective way, for the benefit of West Midland businesses and a number of initiatives have already been launched or are under development. Details are available here. Other initiatives and funds are currently under development to plug remaining gaps. These include enhancing 'investment readiness' services across the region; supporting the development of a regional network of Community Development Finance Institutions; and a Enterprise and Innovation Fund that would provide equity investment of up to Â£2 million. The feasibility of establishing a Local Business Exchange, that would provide the means for small and medium-sized companies in the West Midlands to raise both equity and fixed income capital in a cost-effective way, is also under consideration. Advantage West Midlands also administers Regional Selective Assistance grants - which provide amounts between Â£75k and Â£2 million to businesses planning capital expenditure in 'Assisted Areas' of the West Midlands. Investments above Â£2 million are administered by the DTI centrally.