More than £105k for two local green projects

Seaweed cultivation is one of the projects that has received funding.

Regional development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved £0.5m support from the Scottish Government’s Islands Green Recovery Programme (IGRP) and a further £249k from its own budget.

The IGRP is a £2m fund to support locally-led green projects designed to help support their economic recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It is split into four strands and managed by four partners, delivering investment in low carbon transport, food sustainability and zero waste projects.

The £0.5m HIE element is to support green economic recovery across the region’s island communities. It has been awarded to emerging projects that will contribute to the transition to a carbon neutral region.

In the Western Isles, Gallan Head Community Trust will receive £9,390 towards the conversion and decarbonisation of a community building, while CBaB in Barra secured £96,000 for seaweed cultivation using community energy and to repurpose a fish farm infrastructure.

HIE has also approved a further £249,368 for seven community-led green recovery projects in Shetland, Orkney, Highland and Argyll to help support local jobs. These include initiatives to increase the availability of electric bike hire and electric vehicle charging points. (See page 9).

Zoe Laird, HIE’s regional head of communities infrastructure, said: “Some of the biggest impacts of the pandemic have been felt on our islands and it’s important that support is available to help them recover. These important projects will support a green recovery and the transition to a carbon-neutral region. They will benefit many communities across a dispersed population and contribute to the longer-term recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.

“I am very pleased we have been able to provide support and look forward to seeing the benefits arise as these various projects come online.”

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an economic and community development agency implementing Scotland's Economic Strategy across more than half the country.