Loch Ewe Community Enterprise are celebrating after being awarded almost £350,000 to secure the purchase of a disused builders yard.
A total of £345,663 was granted from the Scottish Land Fund to redevelop the Bac Dubh builders yard in Poolewe into Community ownership. It is a major award to the social enterprise, as it allows them to redevelop the site as the Poolewe Community Business Park. It is hoped that this will provide affordable premises for new and expanding businesses and create more opportunities for employment and enterprise in the area.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee has recommended that the districts are included in the proposed Highland Rural Short-Term Let Control Area.
At a planning meeting this week, Members of Highland Council have decided to include the Area, due to worries about local housing and the needs of local residents, businesses and tourism. They also have agreed to £126,000 worth of funding for Community Regeneration Funds to support eco-housing, community facilities and local infrastructure.
A new £14.25 million funding scheme has been revealed by the Scottish Government to help farmers and Crofters.
The Fund will offer grants of up to £20,000 to farmers and crofters to invest in their businesses, as well as providing enhanced support for those farms or crofts in the Highlands and Islands Areas. Grants will also be available for new entrant Farmers, through the Future Farming Investment Schemes. However, the Scottish Crofting Federation has called for a fair distribution of this fund, especially for crofters, small scale producers and common grazing’s committees.
