This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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European funding allocations
28/12/2005
Communities in the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland have received a share of over £7 million funding from Europe today.
Over £6 million has been allocated to projects to develop small electricity schemes, train people in renewable energy and develop community centres in the Highlands and Islands.
Over 65 projects in the area will receive a mixture of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF), European Social Funding (ESF) and European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Funding (EAGGF).
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Allan Wilson said:
"This is excellent news for the Highlands and Islands. I am pleased to see that such a wide range of projects have been successful in securing a share of a very large sum of money.
"One of the largest recipients of ERDF is the Foula Community Electricity Scheme, which will help ensure the community has a steady supply of electricity for the future.
"Community centres in Raasay and Nairn will also benefit and Gaelic speakers will receive a boost with £93,777 going towards the Gaelic Television Training Trust.
"Finally, I am pleased to see considerable investment going towards training courses on renewable energy.
"Scotland has enormous potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse. The development of courses at Shetland College, UHI Millennium Institute and - for distance learning - the University of Heriot Watt will only enhance those prospects."
And in the South of Scotland a project aimed at boosting visitor numbers to a popular walking route is one of a number of organisations in to share almost £800,000.
The latest round of European Structural Funding for the area is focused on projects that will help tackle employment, create new opportunities for leisure and new services to help small businesses grow.
Commenting on the South of Scotland funding Mr Wilson said:
"This is excellent news for people across the South of Scotland. Whether it is the development of the area's rich tourism potential or the provision of business support services, this latest round of funding will assist local projects delivering a range of important local services.
"Projects will have positive economic spin-offs, from increased visitor numbers to the creation of new jobs
"Dumfries and Galloway Council, for example, has received £96,000 for an ambitious project to promote the popular Southern Upland Way.
"The 212 mile route, which runs from Portpatrick on the south-west coast to Cockburnspath on the eastern seaboard, already attracts a large number of visitors each year. However, the project is keen to increase the number of walkers even further, particularly those from Europe and elsewhere. This will help bring in vital additional tourism income to the area.
"I believe that all of the other projects approved in this latest round of funding are no less exciting, and will have a similarly positive effect. I wish all of the successful projects well in taking their ambitious plans forward."
The other projects in the South of Scotland are:
- Mid Annandale Playcare group have received a grant of £225,000 to help take forward their plans to construct a 420sm business and childcare centre. As well as providing family services to the local community, the centre will provide premises for up to 60 small businesses in the Mid Annandale area.
- Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway will receive £222,500 for its South of Scotland Timber Logistics Programme. This seeks to design and build, over a two year period, a timber haulage route optimisation programme. The technology will support businesses working in the forestry industry and benefit the environment by helping them identify the most sensitive use of routes and using their resources more efficiently.
- Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce has received more than £54,000 to increase local employment and business opportunities through the internet. The web-based business portal - www.bordersworks.co.uk - will provide clients with detailed information on employment and business opportunities in the Borders area.
- Upper Nithsdale Arts and Crafts Community Initiative in Sanquhar has received £48,600 to help to create a multifunctional centre for arts, crafts and culture.
- Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive over £127,000 for its Arts and Craft Sector Trade Development Project. The grant will help enhance a specialist business support service for the Dumfries and Galloway visual art and craft sector. It will also help develop the project's successful Spring Fling Open Studio event.
The South of Scotland Objective 2 programme covers Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. The whole area is fully eligible with the exception of the Tweeddale area around Peebles which is now in transition, reflecting the greater relative prosperity in the area. The South of Scotland region has a population of just over 255,000.
The Programme will deliver over €76 million of support, with the aim of promoting sustainable economic development which is founded on key principles of enterprise, learning and social justice. It will support the development of: Innovative, competitive small and medium sized enterprises, strategic business locations and sectors, and new opportunities for local communities. It aims to achieve the following main targets: 5,000 new jobs and 1,100 jobs safeguarded.
Eleven rounds of eligible projects have been completed totalling over £42 million of ERDF support to date, resulting in a total investment in the local economy of almost £135 million.
The projects in the Highlands and Islands receiving funding are:
| Project Title | Grant |
| Foula Community Electricity Scheme | £355,233 |
| The Hydrogen Lab | £42,781 |
| Knockando Community Water Supply ** | £135,135 |
| Raasay Community Hall | £180,000 |
| Boat of Garten Community Hall | £278,836 |
| Nairn Community Centre | £100,000 |
| Cothrom Learning Centre | £417,077 |
| Argyll Construction Training Centre Project | £346,100 |
| North Uist Development Project | £210,000 |
| Mull Theatre Project | £200,000 |
| Caithness Horizons | £100,000 |
| Total ERDF | £2,365,162 |
| Progress to Employment - Caithness | £103,465 |
| Progress to Employment - Sutherland | £80,417 |
| Transform | £141,088 |
| Argyll & Bute Service Sector & Social Economy Capacity Building Programme | £60,837 |
| Construction Capacity Building Programme | £130,552 |
| Deaf Communication Project | £49,811 |
| Gaelic Television Training Trust | £93,777 |
| Inverness Furniture Re-use, Refurbish and Recycle Project | £90,000 |
| Highland WorkwithUs | £77,288 |
| Logistics Skills for HIE Unemployed | £192,860 |
| Shetland Community Learning Projects | £80,000 |
| Enabling New Abilities Through Computer Technology | £28,604 |
| Opportunities for Training Towards Independence | £85,000 |
| ASET (Argyll Supported Employment Team) | £54,318 |
| Bullwood Regeneration Project | £49,955 |
| Tigh-na-Linne | £38,418 |
| Theatre Skills Training | £16,799 |
| Hospitality, Tourism and PSD Skills for People with Disabilities | £30,978 |
| Community Enterprise Employment Training | £31,577 |
| SHIRLIE Project Supported Employment | £179,479 |
| Pre-Vocational & Vocational Training for People with Learning Disabilities | £34,229 |
| TAG Highland | £187,595 |
| Lead Scotland - Lead into Learning 2005 | £100,001 |
| Rural Opportunities | £115,700 |
| Remote training and learning in Citizens Advice Bureaux | £60,000 |
| Employability Orkney | £42,400 |
| Development of Networked Small Scale Renewable Energy Training Courses | £55,750 |
| Mallaig Marine Training Centre | £26,000 |
| Game Meat Hygiene | £15,382 |
| Distance Learning in Renewable Energy | £84,624 |
| Scotland's Year of Highland Culture - Heritage | £141,100 |
| Developing UHI Network Research Supervisory Skills for Renewables | £140,000 |
| The Hydrogen Lab | £23,500 |
| Radio Broadcasting Training | £61,482 |
| Employment Grants Scheme | £100,000 |
| More Sheep Shearing Opportunities in the Highlands & Islands | £60,104 |
| Cairngorms National Park Land-Based Business Training Project | £59,763 |
| Skills, Higher Management and Technical Training in the Baking Industry | £73,085 |
| Enhancing Meat Industry Skills | £29,654 |
| Upskilling for Logistics in the Highlands | £150,760 |
| Access to Merchant Navy Deck Officer and Engineering Officer Training | £23,578 |
| Graduate Placement Programme | £54,900 |
| Training Plan | £43,890 |
| Over 25+ Modern Apprenticeships | £57,525 |
| FORSTART : HI | £75,000 |
| IGNITE : HI | £36,477 |
| Graduate Placement Scheme - A | £80,000 |
| Construction Training the trainers | £38,517 |
| English for Journalists | £40,000 |
| Greenspace | £70,763 |
| Childminding Recruit and Train | £28,280 |
| Its Your Turn | £23,166 |
| Total ESF | £3,748,448 |
| Explore Culbin | £53,950 |
| Viking Unst | £109,424 |
| Total EAGGF | £163,374 |
| TOTAL | £6,276,984 |