Small projects get share of £1m fund

Projects across Perth and Kinross have secured a share of a £1 million fund to help communities recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Schemes in Perth, Crieff, Pitlochry, Blairgowrie and aberfeldy are among those to benefit from the Scotland Loves Local Fund, which has issued over 200 grants nationally.

Funded by the Scottish Government, it aims to support small-scale improvements to promote and enhance places while helping motivate people to shop, eat and relax in their community and ensuring public safety.

Initiatives to benefit include the creation of a track and trace app to roll out to businesses across the region by Perth and Kinross Chamber of Commerce, the GrowBiz Scotland programme, which works to support rural businesses, and radio and online magazine project by the heartland Radio Foundation.

Scotland’s communities secretary aileen Campbell said:“I am pleased to see our £1 million Scotland Loves Local Fund has reached hundreds of community projects across Scotland.

“This is a unique chance for our local communities to improve towns and promote them as better places to live – an opportunity to use the funding to unlock some brilliant creativity.

“This fund will empower communities by supporting local delivery of projects, to help our towns to recover from the impact of the CoVID-19 pandemic.

“over the festive season and beyond, I want to encourage our communities to‘love local’and remind everyone that money spent locally is more likely to stay in the local economy and support local jobs.

“We all have a part to play in Scotland’s economic recovery and can do so, whilst we look out for one another and follow the FaCTS guidance.”

Residents are being encouraged to follow all safety advice when out shopping and to show kindness to shop workers.

For more information about getting involved with the Scotland Loves Local campaign go to www. lovelocal.scot