This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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European funding for west of Scotland
06/02/2006
A new resource centre for people with sensory impairment is one of the key beneficiaries of significant European investment announced for the West of Scotland today.
The new Sense Scotland centre will be built in Greater Govan with the aid of a £278,113 share of £3.27 million European Regional Development Funding.
Announcing the funding at Govan Initiative, Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson said:
"European funding continues to play a major role in the development of the West of Scotland and I am particularly pleased to announce this latest round of funding.
"Sense Scotland have today received a real boost for their planned centre which will merge three existing services and adopt an innovative, integrated approach to support.
"As well as the Govan Initiative, a planned new neighbourhood centre in Cambuslang will also receive funding to become the focal point of the community.
"Other projects will receive funding towards maintaining community learning points within the East End of Glasgow and opening up job opportunities in the north of the city.
"This funding is vital to the regeneration of several areas in the West and I look forward to seeing some of these projects in the coming months and years as they develop."
Full list of projects:
Project - funding allocated (£s)
Caledonian Centre, Cambuslang - 301,476
Making it Happen - 278,113
Regeneration Through Enterprise 2006-08 - 121,390
Growing Third Sector Services 2006-08 - 61,767
East End Community Academy 2006-08 - 96,248
East End Connected 2006-08 - 89,709
Mile End Out of School Care 2006-08 - 44,853
Greater Govan Social Economy Team - 213,164
Cambuslang Training and Enterprise Centre - 142,059
Blantyre Miners Welfare Community Resource Centre - 220,720
Fairhill Integrated Community Facility - 815,324
Blairtummock Social Enterprise Centre - 710,000
Piperhill Wood Energy Project - 182,000
The 2000-2006 Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme will invest £300 million of European Funds in the region by December 2006. The funds are targeted on encouraging job creation in areas with urban problems and declining traditional industries.
European Funds consist of two main kinds of investment. The European Regional Development Fund provides assistance for people to start or grow businesses; to develop sites and premises for businesses; to upgrade tourism facilities; and to support community economic development. The European Social Fund supports training for people working in the region or looking for jobs. It is intended in particular to help people who are long term unemployed; young job seekers; and those excluded from the labour market.
Since 1989 European Funds have invested over £1,000 million in the Western Scotland economy. Projects supported include developments at Loch Lomond, the Glasgow Science Centre and the Euro freight terminal at Mossend.
European Funds are managed by a regional partnership of public, private and third sector agencies. Strathclyde European Partnership Ltd manage the project application process.
New awards are announced by the Executive approximately three times per year. 13 projects in this series of awards will share in over £3.27 million of European funding, as part of a total investment of almost £21.2 million in local projects across the region. The other funding comes from the Scottish Enterprise network, local authorities, the voluntary sector, colleges and universities and the private sector.