This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Euro funding for south of Scotland
15/11/2006
Two groups in the South of Scotland are to receive European funding to develop their business support services.
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Allan Wilson announced that more than £200,000 will be given to LINC South to support locally-based business angels and to Mini-MOLI, a mobile learning group.
The Minister said:
"This funding will be a welcome boost for business growth in the South of Scotland.
"LINC South will assist fledgling companies and give them the support they need in a competitive environment.
"Mini-MOLI's Mobile Learning Initiative will undertake a programme of visits to small businesses throughout Dumfries and Galloway with a view to demonstrating the ways in which technology can benefit their business.
"I am sure that these services will become valuable to the area's businesses and I am delighted to announce today's funding."
The funding given to LINC South is for a six month extension to the project, to provide developmental and delivery support to emerging locally-based business angel groups in the Programme Area thereby improving access to finance for high growth SMEs.
The support will be enhanced by the availability to potential investee companies of a specialised Investment Facilitation Grant. Similar schemes are operating within the Strathclyde and Eastern Scotland areas.
The original project costs were £169,719 with an ERDF grant of £84,859. The project has requested a six month extension and will receive an increase of £25,849 in ERDF assistance.
Funding for Mini-MOLI will contribute to the revenue costs associated with the creation and running of a mini mobile learning facility throughout the Dumfries and Galloway area.
It is a customised vehicle specifically purchased by Dumfries and Galloway College and equipped with satellite access to broadband communications via a range of laptop computers and related equipment.
It will enable the college to reach the parts of the area that the larger MOLI cannot reach. The Mini MOLI will undertake a programme of visits to small businesses throughout Dumfries and Galloway with a view to demonstrating the ways Information and Communication Technology can aid economic development within the context of the business concerned.
The project will demonstrate to businesses the ways in which IT, the internet, business software and related technology can be used to improve business competitiveness. The project has total eligible costs of £162,933 and is being granted £81,466 of ERDF assistance.