Moray LEADER budget fully spent on worthy projects
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THE Moray LEADER programme has hit its funding target with its full budget now committed to projects in the region.
Following the last application round early last year, more than £2.8 million has been allocated to Moray projects over the last three years.
The final four projects of 2019 to get under way received Moray LEADER grants totalling just under £500,000.
A new family support service will be created in Buckie after Action for Children received an award of £149,275 for its AB56 Futures project in the former Lady Cathcart School. Part of the project involves a complete renovation of the upper floor of the building into a multi-purpose family learning centre.
Lossiemouth's Marine Park Pavilion project was boosted after the Action Marine Park group was awarded £220,000. The group was awarded the funds to construct the new pavilion for sports groups and the wider community after a Community Asset Transfer of the park from Moray Council.
Cullen Volunteer Group was awarded £20,752 for its "smart tourism" initiative. Cullen Eco-Museum project will turn Cullen into a walking museum which people can navigate using a smartphone app. The project aims to encourage locals and visitors to engage with the history of the town.
The Scottish Goat Meat Company was awarded £96,062 for its Hillhead Farm Experience Breaks project, which will transform Hillhead Farm, at Glen of Newmill by Keith, into a hands-on farm attraction with luxury glamping pod accommodation.
The beneficiaries have a limited window in which to complete their projects before the Moray LEADER programme closes at the end of December.
Moray Local Action Group (LAG) chairman Alastair Kennedy said: "Because the Moray LAG wished to form a unique set-up in Moray, with tsiMORAY taking on the role of accountable body, the Moray LEADER programme was almost a year late in getting started.
"However, the roadshow events and active promotion of the programme as 'open for business' has ensured a substantial level of interest was shown by communities across Moray, with a diverse range of project applications coming forward.
"That diversity gave the LAG many hours of deliberation on the merits of each application and whether they met the strict LEADER criteria and could deliver against the Local Development Strategy."
Mr Kennedy added: "I am delighted we are able to celebrate the fact that our allocation of funding is completely spent, and in fact, that Moray LEADER has been successful in receiving an increased budget allocation, enabling support for further projects.
"I wish to thank LAG members for their commitment and diligence throughout the programme, which has made my role much easier, along with a massive vote of thanks for the supportive Moray LEADER staff team, without whose dedication we would never have succeeded in achieving this position which we are now celebrating."
