£2 million support for Fife business

5 Nov 2015 12:46 PM

6th Fife Taskforce announces funding for four local projects.

The sixth meeting of the Fife Taskforce has announced more than £2 million in funding for projects to support businesses and help regenerate communities in the local area.

The sixth meeting of the Fife Taskforce was held in Glenrothes yesterday.

Four local projects will receive a total of £2,070,000 from the £6 million set aside to support the Fife Taskforce’s Action Plan. Overall, £3.3 million of this total has now been allocated.

The projects are:

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

“The focus of the Taskforce is on action that continues to assist people, businesses and communities affected by job losses in central Fife. Supported by £6 million from the Scottish Government these initiatives will help deliver economic growth in the Glenrothes area and Central Fife. These announcements show that we are getting the most appropriate help and support in place as quickly as possible.

"We would like to recognise the continued efforts, not only of the public sector agencies involved, but also of the private sector that has also done all it can to help offer jobs and opportunities to those made redundant.

“There is still work to be done and opportunity to be created. The Taskforce has a specific vision and an immediate plan of action to support workers and use the £6 million we have provided to support the local community and the wider Fife economy.”

Fife Council Leader Cllr David Ross, said:

“I am pleased with what has been achieved to date through the Task Force, but the job is by no means finished. There are still significant numbers of workers directly affected by the Tullis Russell and other closures who require our continued support, and that will be forthcoming. 

“We also have much to do to support the creation of alternative employment opportunities in the Glenrothes and wider Fife area to replace the jobs lost at Tullis Russell and elsewhere.

“We are making progress on this and I would like to thank all those from public, private and voluntary sectors who are making valuable contributions to this work.”

Notes To Editors

The Scottish Government and Fife Council has established a Fife Taskforce, involving key partners, to support economic growth and employment creation, with particular focus on Glenrothes and Central Fife, to help mitigate the effects of potential job losses and put in place appropriate support for a sustainable future for the area.

The projects announced yesterday focus on key strands of the Action Plan, namely Supporting Business Growth, Community Regeneration and Business Infrastructure and Investment. The Taskforce previously agreed to allocate the £6 million fund as follows: