Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is preparing to consider new applications to its Community Capital Grants Fund (CCGF).

They will be from a range of community enterprises progressing their local capital projects across the Outer Hebrides.

A total of £1.8m has been made available to community organisations over the course of the Comhairle's Capital Programme, 2013-18. There will be two funding rounds per year for community capital projects, with the deadline for the first of these being 31 October 2013.

A number of Expressions of Interest from properly constituted community organisations have been received since the CCGF launched in July this year.

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Councillor Archie Campbell, Chair of the Comhairle Sustainable Development Committee said: "The Comhairle's Economic Development service is available to help organisations with ideas for developing their communities across the Outer Hebrides. With the high level of interest already demonstrated we are certain that some very significant projects will be applying to the Community Capital Fund in each of the rounds during the current financial year."

The Comhairle's economic development service is leading the delivery of the CCGF, as funding agencies often look for Local Authority commitment to projects before considering their own input. It is proposed to deliver the maximum external leverage for the Comhairle's investment - totalling £360k per annum over the next five years.

During the previous Capital Programme, 2008-13, a total of 147 community projects across eight separate grant schemes were approved.

Forty-six projects were supported in Uist & Barra, 86 in Lewis, 12 in Harris, with three projects benefitting the whole of the Outer Hebrides. Most projects have since been completed or are well-underway. The grants helped improve community centres, football and playing fields, as well as create new facilities, generate renewable energy and fund arts and cultural activity.

(JP/MH)