Scottish Government gives £25m boost to ‘innovative’ community projects
Money from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund will go to a variety of initiatives.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Scottish Government grants totalling £25 million are set to help “innovative” projects aimed at tackling inequalities and creating more “vibrant” communities.
Ministers have pledged the funds to 22 different initiatives across Scotland, including plans to transform a disused historic building in Renfrewshire into the country’s first theatre designed for young people.
Money from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund will also go to support a £4 million technology hub in Shawfield, Glasgow, and a skills and innovation centre in East Kilbride.
Meanwhile, funding of £2 million will help bring in investment totalling £14.6 million to create a new hub in Edinburgh that will provide a nursery, library, workshops for new businesses, alongside several affordable homes and a revamped community arts centre.
Overall the projects being supported could provide as many as 3,000 jobs, training and volunteering opportunities, while also helping to reduce local carbon emissions, the Scottish Government said.
Community wealth minister Tom Arthur said: “The last few years have been tough for us all but many of Scotland’s communities have been more impacted than others.
“The latest projects to benefit from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund are working to tackle inequalities and create vibrant town centres and neighbourhoods.
“By securing investment from this £25 million fund, these innovative projects demonstrate the powerful role those in our communities can have in helping to transform their town centres and neighbourhoods by investing in their future.”
He added: “The Scottish Government will do all it can to support projects that help create the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland we all want to see.”