Fresh wave of funding for Aberdeenshire coastal towns

Aderdeenshire Council has been awarded more than £442,000 from the Scottish Crown Estate to be spent on coastal community initiatives by March 2021.The local authority said that £288,00 will be made available in a challenge fund to support projects which would take place within one mile of the Aberdeenshire coast and can demonstrate a link to the coast and/or sea.The rest of the funds will be split between the North East Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group (NESFLAG) and the Business Resilience and Sustainability Scheme (BRASS).NESFLAG will provide grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for projects which support business diversification and innovation in key economic sectors, as well as developing communities and enhancing environmental assets in coastal areas.BRASS will provide grants of up to £10,000 to invest in projects which respond to climate change and net zero targets, bring new products and create new markets as well as conduct digital and net zero audits.A further £100,000 has been split equally between the Banff & Buchan, Buchan, Formartine and Kincardine & Mearns area committees. Councillors from each area will have discretion to decide the priorities for the funding and determine how it is allocated.The remaining funds have been allocated to support town centre projects through the Phoenix Fund initiative, Aberdeenshire Council said.