Aberdeenshire Council has awarded a further £1.4 million of UK Shared Prosperity Fund grants to 12 projects following a second application round.

It brings the total funding committed in the region to more than £5 million across 37 projects.

A further 11 projects have been offered £1.5 million of funding in principle, subject to meeting conditions such as securing match funding, confirming final costs or obtaining statutory permissions.

In addition, a number of feasibility studies have been commissioned including a study to develop a community hub in Edzell Woods.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Awards under the communities and place theme have been made to enhance a number of community facilities, including the Gordon Rural Action charity building in Huntly, the MACBI Community Hub in Mintlaw, Oldmeldrum Legion and Chapel of Garioch Village Hall.

Funding has also been allocated to an all-abilities path at Newburgh beach and additional triage staff in Citizens Advice Bureaux in Stonehaven, Westhill, Turriff and Peterhead.

Projects receiving Supporting Local Business grants include a food and drink tourism and entrepreneurship programme delivered by Robert Gordon University, together with Opportunity North East’s inspirational programme for business leaders.

A First Employee Grant Scheme and Start-up Grant Scheme have also been launched by Aberdeenshire Council to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses.

Employability and skills development projects delivered by Aberdeen Foyer at the Vinery in Banff have also been allocated funding through the People and Skills theme.

The projects to receive funding are:

• Triage officers – Aberdeenshire consortium bureaux (South West Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice Bureau) – £87,923.

• Gordon Rural Action building re-development (Gordon Rural Action) – £200,000.

• MACBI community space (Mintlaw and Central Buchan Initiative) – £200,564.

• Newburgh seal viewing experience – phase 2 (Newburgh and Ythan Community Trust SCIO) – £88,405.

• Oldmeldrum Legion regeneration (Royal British Legion Scotland Oldmeldrum branch) – £154,831.

• Chapel of Garioch village hall (King George V Memorial Hall) – £72,876.

• First Employee Grants (Aberdeenshire Council) – £77,416.

• Startup Grants (Aberdeenshire Council) – £218,029.

• Scaling Business Leaders – Inspirational Programme (Opportunity North East) – £50,000.

• Food and Drink/Tourism Entrepreneurship Programme (Robert Gordon University) – £50,580.

• Grow @ The Vinery – Employability (Aberdeen Foyer) – £98,268.

• Grow @ The Vinery – Skills (Aberdeen Foyer) – £133,451.

A summary of all projects funded is available at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/business/business-support/funding/uk-shared-prosperity-fund/

Meanwhile, a number of projects funded in the earlier first application round have also now been completed including an enhanced 3G synthetic pitch at the Meadows sports facility in Ellon, enhanced paths near Aboyne and between Torphins and Banchory and a CCTV system at The Haughs in Turriff.

Aberdeenshire Council deputy leader and chairwoman of the UKSPF Local Partnership Group, Councillor Anne Stirling, said: “This second application round has demonstrated continued, strong interest for UK Shared Prosperity Funding.

“The projects receiving support – to be delivered thanks to the commitment of a wide range of organisations – have great potential to benefit communities, businesses and people throughout Aberdeenshire.”

Partnership Group vice-chairman, Councillor Alan Turner, said: “It’s great to see so many funded projects completed and open to the public.

“These additional grant awards will build upon this success and leave a lasting legacy from the funds for our communities.”

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