A cash injection of more than £1.9million has been announced to back new jobs and business opportunities throughout Scotland.

The money from the European Structural Fund will support new developments and improvements to existing facilities, offering business spaces, training schemes and childcare facilities.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said: "Structural funds played a key role in stimulating economic recovery in Scotland. Today's cash injection will help sustain that renewed growth, support vital jobs and boost local economies.

"The projects they support offer a real, tangible benefit to the local community and economy.

"People can see for themselves in bricks and mortar and in employment opportunities how this money will make a difference to their area,"he continued."These projects will bring derelict sites back into use, create high quality, modern business centres and I look forward to seeing them deliver excellent results, for both the local communities, and our economy as a whole

"Seeing the transformation of Maryhill Burgh Halls today is has brought home the very real difference Structural Funds can make in a community. I am proud that the Scottish Government has been able to provide support to this project through Structural Funds and the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. I have no doubt that the facilities here will be a real asset to individuals, businesses and the community."

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The funds announced are:

* £658,765 for Clydesdale Community Initiatives to refurbish a derelict site on the outskirts of Lanark. This will create an integrated training, ICT and enterprise hub. It aims to create 345m2 of workshop space together with a dedicated training facility for small and medium-sized businesses. It aims to support 5 enterprises and create 30 jobs.

* £465,999 will go to the Stonehouse Development Trust to refurbish the Stonehouse Public Institute to create a key shared business centre and childcare hub. It will create 369m2 of business space and aims to support three enterprises and create seven jobs.

* £226,680 to South Lanarkshire Council for a Market Towns Business Infrastructure project which will refurbish a former squash court in Lanark to create a business and enterprise centre. It aims to support seven enterprises and create 20 jobs.

* £225,000 to Fife Council for the East Neuk Creative Industries Hub. This project will renovate and redevelop part of the Murray Library in Anstruther to provide six-eight affordable business units for let to small and medium sized businesses in the creative industries. It aims to support six enterprises and create five jobs.

* £199,563 to South Lanarkshire Council for a Rural Industrial Site Redevelopment which will redevelop 14,450m2 of currently redundant and derelict brownfield site to provide five industrial plot. This will support eight enterprises and 12 jobs.

* £145,296 to East Lothian Council to refurbish refurbish an existing former school for use as a rural business centre. This will provide space for four businesses and will create two jobs.

Mr Neil was speaking at the Structural Funds Annual Event in Maryhill Burgh Halls. The halls have been newly refurbished and restored with support from European Structural Funds.

(GK)