SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, welcomed the announcement of the successful applicants for the Scottish Government’s £2 million Island Communities Fund.
There are 29 community groups and business across 23 islands who have each been awarded up to £150,000 for projects focussing on developing sustainable economic activities on islands. Eight of the successful applicants are from the Western Isles, receiving a combined total of £475,853.32 in funding.
Commenting, Allan said: “The Western Isles have a wealth of fantastic local businesses and organisations, and I am very pleased to see that a significant proportion of the Island Communities Fund has been awarded to innovative projects all across our islands.
“Our island communities have a hugely important role to play in helping us achieve Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets, and I would like to congratulate those who have been awarded this funding, which will enable them to develop and deliver their proposals over the next 6 months. Each of these projects has the potential to have an enormously positive effect locally, supporting employment and community resilience through green economic initiatives.”
The Hebridean organisations who have been awarded funding through the scheme are the Clan Macquarrie Community Centre, Leverhulme Community Hub, Point and Sandwick Coastal Community Path SCIO, Gàradh a’ Bhàgh a’ Tuath, Keose Glebe Estate, MacLeans Bakery (Benbecula) Ltd., North Uist Distillery, and Comunn Eachdraidh Nis.
