Bids welcome from projects in Sutherland for Town Centre Fund investment

16th November 2020

Sutherland County Committee is inviting bids from projects in Brora, Dornoch and Golspie for Town Centre Fund investment with proposals to be submitted by 9am on 30 November 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 The 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 Sutherland has been allocated a grant of £84,156 to invest.

Councillor Richard Gale, Chair of Sutherland County Committee, said: "I am delighted to welcome the allocation of this grant for investment in our local town centres. More now than ever before, our town centres require additional support as we face local economic struggle following the global pandemic."

He added: "It is therefore essential that we work together, and quickly, to make the most of this opportunity to deliver this necessary assistance. I look forward to seeing the improvements this investment will bring to our local community and confident we will begin to see the benefits as we act sooner rather than later."

The grant can be spent on Council, public, community-based or private sector projects in the town centres of Brora, Dornoch or Golspie. 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 our website to return to regeneration@highland.gov.uk as soon as possible, but no later than 9am on 30 November.

Proposals will be considered at a special meeting of the Committee on 14 December 2020.