Council seeking applicants for community improvement fund

A funding pot of £624,000 is available for transformative projects.

This is where the Place-Based Investment Fund Programme could be perfect for them.

With a total fund of £624,000 for Capital projects or programmes based in Angus, the council is now welcoming expressions of interest for funding for transformational projects that can make a difference to local areas and be in step with local plans.

The clock is ticking, however, as as expressions of interest will only be accepted up to Monday, April 25.

The creation of a Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP), with £275million of funding to support place-based working, was announced in the 2020-21 Scottish Government Programme for Government.

Its purpose is to make sure that all place-based investments are shaped by the needs and aspirations of local communities. The programme aims to ensure that those investments accelerate ambitions for place-making, 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre revitalisation, community-led regeneration, inclusive growth, local resilience, community wealth building and work towards Net Zero targets.

A council spokesman said: “Prospective projects could have an aspirational focus on civic pride or public spaces that are free and open to everyone, or they could be transformational in relation to property purchase or redevelopment.

“The council’s investments will be aligned in Angus’s main towns to streamline delivery and increase impact and it is seeking projects that are ready to be delivered for this year's fund, with contracts in place or works started for March 2023.

However, all aspirations and ideas for community-led projects for this programme are welcome. Angus Council wants to hear all community aspirations as there are a further three years during which they can work with groups to develop projects. Projects meeting the criteria will be invited to the application stage.

Further information about the scheme and how to submit an expression of interest can be found on the council’s Placed-Based Investment Programme Fund page on its website.