Covid-19 recovery in strath gets cash boost from Cairngorms National Park Authority
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An increased cashpot of £300,000 is up for grabs as part of the green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic in the Cairngorms National Park.
Park bosses have said the additional grants will support projects that create jobs and encourage economic growth, protect nature, address climate change and directly benefit the local communities in which they are taking place.
The fund is made up of £250,000 from the Cairngorms National Park Authority and a further £50,000 from the Cairngorms Trust.
The first Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund was launched last year and totalled £130,000.
It has been specifically tailored for projects within the national park which may not be able to access funding from national or regional schemes.
Grant Moir, CNPA chief executive, said: “With the twin challenges of Covid-19 and the climate crisis, it’s more important than ever that we come together as a national park and support communities and local businesses to recover in the most sustainable way possible.
“From creating digital platforms for Blair Atholl and Area Tourism Association to the development of a community hub in Kingussie and tree planting along the River Truim, last year’s fund made a huge different to communities across the park.
"Today’s announcement of a further £300,000 in funding will look to build on that legacy, keeping Cairngorms businesses and communities at the forefront of the recovery effort.”
Xander McDade, CNPA board convener, said: “The CNPA board acted quickly to combat the economic and social impact of the pandemic and the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund.
"It is designed to support local communities and businesses within the park that have not been able to access other regional or national funding schemes.
"We are delighted to announce its return with an increased funding pot.
“Earlier this month we signed off ambitious targets for the National Park to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 at the latest.
"And we are hoping to see applications from projects that not only create economic growth and support local communities but that also help achieve our net zero goal as quickly as possible.
"It is vital that we all work together to achieve economic recovery and to protect our environment while we do so.”
Roger Clegg, Cairngorms Trust chairman, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this further round of investment at a time when communities and businesses across the park need it the most.
"The past 12 months have hit the region incredibly hard and many have struggled to access funding to keep their businesses afloat.
"It is our hope that – having more than doubled the value of the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund – we will reach many of those individuals and businesses worst affected by the pandemic, helping them recover and grow, create jobs, address climate change and support the communities around them.”
The fund has four guiding principles to support:
* projects that are focused on green solutions;
* the long term aims of the National Park;
* partnership working through well-being and economic growth of communities; and
* local employment.
The fund will look to assist a range of projects of varying sizes that can help to deliver all of the four principles and will benefit the community in the longer term.
Groups eligible to apply for the fund include community bodies, registered charities, business associations and nature and climate bodies or partnerships.
Individual businesses may be eligible to apply but are encouraged to do so as groups or informal partnerships of businesses working together to solve common problems or undertake joint initiatives.
The 2021 fund will operate in two rounds, opening in April and August.
A CNPA spokesperson said: "This is to allow maximum time for project delivery from the first round but also give an opportunity for those not yet ready to apply to develop applications to submit in the August round."
All successful projects must be completed by March 31, 2022.
The first round will be open for applications from April 5 and will close on May 9.
To find out more about the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund, including details of project criteria and who is eligible to apply, please go here
