MATHER WELCOMES RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING FOR ARGYLL

Jim Mather Argyll & Bute MSP, welcomes £6.4 million funding for Argyll.
102 projects in the region funded by Rural Priorities grants

New funding to boost economic recovery and tackle climate change in Argyll has been announced today.

The funding comes from the Rural Priorities scheme within the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). This funding from this round alone will create or sustain more than 200 jobs in Scotland and brings the total investment approved to £257.8 million.

Argyll projects approved include the renovation of Tarbert Castle, improving marine access on Loch Long and improved the upkeep of a nature reserve on Coll.

Rural Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“Rural communities produce food and generate tourism – two of the key drivers powering the Scottish economy.

“Rural Priorities is of considerable importance to Scotland’s Economic Recovery Programme, with £34.6 million of this new funding going directly to farming and rural businesses to help improve their competitiveness.

“Over a number of years, more than £60 million will also go towards environmental and forestry projects which will protect and improve Scotland’s natural environment and help meet our targets on climate change. A large number of forestry projects in particular have been approved in this round, which will be valuable to the development of the sector.”

“This has been another very successful round of assessments with interest in Rural Priorities now at record levels.”