Projects across Aberdeenshire secure share of Scotland Loves Local Fund
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Organisations across Aberdeenshire have secured a share of £1.5m from the Scotland Loves Local Fund.
Schemes in Banff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Inverurie, Ellon, Turiff, Huntly and Banchory are among those benefiting from the boost to help revitalise cities, town centres and neighbourhoods.
The Udny Community Trust in Pitmedden will receive £5500 towards improved accessibility at the Cafe48 premises in Pitmedden, while the We Are Inverurie Development will be awarded £25,000 for the development of an app which will give local businesses a platform on which they can trade digitally.
And £25,071 will be given to Aberdeenshire Council for the Rediscover Aberdeenshire’s town centres campaign to help promote the shop local message, including through social media, radio and newspaper campaigns in nine key town centres including Turriff, Ellon and Inverurie.
Inverurie BID manager Derek Ritchie commented: "The £25k that We Are Inverurie - BID received is for setting up a new Inverurie App called the LOKIL APP.
"It is going to be piloted in Inverurie by our partner, Market Ethically during 2022 and will then be rolled out to other towns in Aberdeenshire that want to be part of it in 2023.
"This will be a full e-commerce App which will be easy for consumers to use and cost effective for businesses."
Commenting on the funding MSP Gillian Martin said: “I am delighted that projects in Aberdeenshire are going to benefit from more than £50,000 from the first round of grants from the Scotland Loves Local Fund.
“After the past year and a half, this will really help spur on many of the projects in Aberdeenshire which are vital to unlocking the innovation and action which will make our communities stronger.
“This kind of action reinforces the Scottish Government’s determination to support Aberdeenshire as we recover from the pandemic – helping make sure we create a fairer, healthier, greener, inclusive and more sustainable economic recovery.”
Nationally the funding will help to restore local tourism, make town centres more environmentally friendly and sustainable, support communities to refurbish shop fronts and public spaces ahead of the festive season.
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “The Scottish Government is supporting our communities to deliver renewed local prosperity.
"I hope these grants will help spur on many of the projects which are vital to unlocking the innovation and action which will make our towns and neighbourhoods stronger.
“It reinforces our determination to support all our communities as they recover and will help strengthen the vital backing being provided through the Scotland Loves Local marketing campaign and gift card scheme.
“These grants are part of Scottish Government measures to create a fairer, healthier, greener, inclusive and more sustainable economic recovery.”
The Fund has been administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) whose chief officer Phil Prentice said: “Vital work is taking place in Aberdeenshire and across Scotland to revitalise and reimagine our communities.
"There’s real innovation among the projects being supported.
"I am sure these grants will go a long way to turning these ambitious visions into action, delivering real benefits.”
