Bids welcome from Lochaber projects for Town Centre Fund investment

Members of The Highland Council’s Lochaber Area Committee are inviting bids from community projects in the Lochaber area for a Town Centre Fund investment with proposals to be submitted no later than 9am, Monday 14 December 2020. 

This invitation follows the announcement made on 4 November at the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee that extra funding has been made available from Scottish Government to boost town centres across the region. It was agreed that decisions on spend would be taken at area committee level of which Lochaber has been allocated a grant of £84,156 to invest.

Cllr Andrew Baxter, Lochaber Committee Chair, said: “The Scottish Government’s Town Centre Funding is welcomed at a time of economic crisis, it will help provide local construction activity and stimulate employment in the area. Offering a confidence boost to our communities at a very difficult time.”

He added: “There is a tight turnaround and vital that communities react quickly to make use of this opportunity and get their bids in promptly. Lochaber Councillors look forward to seeing the improvements this investment will bring to our communities.”

The grant can be spent on Council, public, community-based or private sector projects in the town centres of Fort William, Caol, Banavie and Corpach. Social enterprises or community organisations will be eligible if they are companies limited by guarantee/shares.

As decided by the Scottish Government, the grant must be for physical projects which means only certain types of projects can be funded. For example, the spending must be of a “one-off” nature and result in the construction or improvement of an asset such as a building or an area of land.

Prospective project sponsors are encouraged to learn more and can complete a form available on the Council’s website and return to regeneration@highland.gov.uk as soon as possible, but no later than 9am on Monday 14 December 2020.

Proposals will be considered at the Lochaber Committee on 18 January 2020.