Targeted support for cities and regions

Cities and regions can apply for additional funding to help them recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Speaking ahead of the first meeting of the City Centre Recovery taskforce tomorrow (Thursday) Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced two new funds totalling £4 million.

Each city local authority has been invited to submit proposals focused on recovery planning to the £2 million City Centres Recovery Fund.

Proposals received so far include:

• plans for more city centre based apprenticeships and training in Edinburgh
• property repair, improvement and conversion in Perth City Centre
• repurposing of Dundee City Centre properties through collaboration with Creative Industries sector
• support for businesses in Glasgow applying for outdoor trading areas as restrictions ease

Meanwhile, a £2 million Regional Recovery Fund is calling for proposals focused on maximising local job creation, as well as accelerating delivery of City Region and Growth Deal investment and developing regional recovery plans.

Ms Hyslop said:

“There is no denying the severe impact this pandemic has had, and continues to have, on our cities and regions. We recognise the sacrifices everyone has made to support our collective effort to get the virus under control and for that we are incredibly grateful.

“We know the pandemic has had differing impacts across Scotland, and this targeted support allows each local authority to put forward tailored proposals that meet their unique needs and support economic recovery.

“We have already provided £1.2 billion in economic recovery initiatives over the last year and the recently passed Scottish Budget sets out even more recovery measures to support the economy in the next year.

“Our City Centre Recovery taskforce will develop a shared vision for the future of Scotland’s city centres, with a focus on innovative actions to help them prosper over the next five years, in a way that encourages inclusive and sustainable growth.”

Background:

Both funds will be delivered by Local Authorities.

The City Centre Recovery taskforce will be led by the Economy Secretary and carried out through the Scottish Cities Alliance, a partnership between Scottish Government and Scotland’s seven cities.

The remit of the taskforce is to:

• develop a shared vision for the future of Scotland’s city centres
• develop a series of innovative actions aimed at enabling our city centres to prosper, over the next five years, in a way that encourages inclusive and sustainable growth across our cities and their wider regions
• ensure that enabling increased fair work opportunities in our city centres is core to this work
• ensure that city centres can make an impactful contribution to Scotland’s journey to being a net zero carbon economy
• frame a new way of working to help the Scottish Government and its agencies work with local authorities and  the private third sectors to stimulate and maintain economic recovery in our city centres
• capture examples of innovation or best practice in Scottish cities and out with the Scottish context to inspire successful and sustainable change