TOWN CENTRE FUND BOOSTS SCOTTISH JOBS

TOWN CENTRE FUND BOOSTS SCOTTISH JOBS

SNP PUT TOWNS AND HIGH STREETS AT HEART OF SCOTTISH RECOVERY

An announcement of £40 million of support for Scottish towns will support
Scottish jobs and help boost local economies during the recession.

The announcement by the SNP Scottish Government will deliver support for
640 jobs across Scotland including millions of pounds of investment in
towns such as Kirkcaldy, North Lanarkshire, Biggar, Alloa, Dingwall,
Dunbar, Paisley, Stirling, Ayr and Greenock as well as Blairgowrie,
Lochee, Portobello and parts of Glasgow.

Stewart McMillan MSP, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy
committee said;

“This is excellent news for town centres across Scotland.

“Alongside the small business bonus this will bring a boost to businesses
and to local economies as they struggle with the recession.

"The SNP Government has put considerable resources into tackling the
recession and regenerating out towns and high streets is an essential part
of that effort."

“In my region support for Greenock, Paisley and towns across Renfrew will
help inject new life to these communities and attract shoppers and
businesses back to town centres often affected by their proximity to
larger cities.

Central Scotland MSP Jamie Hepburn welcomed £2.7 million of support for
towns across North Lanarkshire

“With this announcement the Scottish Government is putting real resources
into supporting North Lanarkshire through the recession.

“With investment in town centres following recent investment in housing in
the area the SNP Government’s support is boosting jobs and will boost our
town centres to ensure they can be the centre of communities across the
region.

Commenting on the award of nearly £500,000 to Dingwall Highlands MSP Dave
Thompson added;

“This is a welcome step for Dingwall. We have excellent shops and
services – this money will help create a better environment for shoppers
with investment in lighting and infrastructure.

“With another round of funding to go I am hopeful we will see more towns
in the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland benefiting from this
valuable fund.”

North East MSP Maureen Watt added;

“Town centres are the hubs that bring communities together in towns across
Scotland and a healthy, vibrant town centre is essential to the success of
any town.

“Stonehaven Town Hall is an important part of the local community and it
is excellent news that it is to be upgraded in this way. Hopefully people
in Stonehaven will be able to get even greater use out of the building
once work on it is complete.”

Glasgow MSP Bob Doris welcomed the award of over £5 million to projects
across the city;

“This is a stunning achievement for Glasgow and shows that the Scottish
Government has delivered for our city. I welcome all successful Glasgow
projects and I am particularly proud of the £1.8m grant to Maryhill Burgh
Halls. The money for Maryhill Burgh Halls will not only generate
significant additional spend on top of the £1.8m grant, it will also see a
civic hub which will create both employment and a child care facility in
an area that has suffered more than most in recent years.”