The first £52.1 million from a new fund supporting jobs, skills and regeneration projects across Scotland has been released to regional leaders.
Five regional partnerships have had their three-year investment plans approved by the UK Government, allowing work on infrastructure, business support and training programmes to begin.
The money is the first instalment from the £140 million Scottish Local Growth Fund, which will run from 2026/27 until 2028/29.
It is being distributed directly to regional partnerships covering Glasgow, Edinburgh and south-east Scotland, the Tay Cities, Ayrshire and Forth Valley.
The funding has been divided according to the population of each region, with the Glasgow City Region receiving the largest allocation.
The first-year payments are:
- Glasgow City Region: £22.7 million, from a three-year allocation of £60.9 million
- Edinburgh and south-east Scotland: £14.1 million, from £37.8 million
- Tay Cities Region: £7.3 million, from £19.5 million
- Ayrshire: £4.4 million, from £11.8 million
- Forth Valley: £3.7 million, from £9.8 million
The Glasgow City Region programme covers Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Its investment plan includes support for businesses and employment programmes alongside infrastructure intended to unlock new development and economic growth.
Edinburgh and south-east Scotland will use part of its allocation to establish five Housing and Net Zero Accelerator Hubs.
The training centres will help workers develop skills in green construction and the retrofitting of homes and other buildings.
A Regional Intelligence Hub will also be created to gather and analyse economic data, while other funding will be directed towards employment programmes and infrastructure intended to support new housing.
The south-east programme covers Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Fife and the Scottish Borders.
The Tay Cities Region, covering Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross and north-east Fife, plans to invest in workforce development for tourism, advanced manufacturing, the creative industries, agriculture and food production.
Its programme also includes new small-scale innovation spaces, industrial infrastructure and grants intended to help businesses grow.
Ayrshire will establish a shared economic development service and Regional Intelligence Hub covering East, North and South Ayrshire.
Its plans also include recruitment incentives, employability hubs, start-up support and accelerator grants for growing businesses.
In Forth Valley, the money will support business growth, workforce training, housing and infrastructure projects across Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
The fund is aimed at regions containing communities with some of Scotland’s lowest levels of gross disposable household income per person.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “These funds will support local leaders throughout Scotland to create skilled jobs, help start up businesses and revive our local high streets.”
The UK Government said the money was being given directly to regional partnerships so decisions could be based on local economic priorities.
The partnerships bring together councils, businesses, colleges, universities, skills agencies and voluntary organisations.
Further payments will be made during the next two years as the five regions progress with their approved plans and provide annual updates.
The Local Growth Fund succeeds the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was introduced as a replacement for European Union regional funding.