Falkirk Council has secured funding of almost £6.2 million to benefit communities across the region.

Nearly £6.2m has been allocated to spend in Falkirk over the next three years 'to help build pride in place and increase life chances'.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund replaces programmes formerly funded by the European Union.

The fund will be split over four areas suggested by UK government:

• Supporting local businesses

• People, skills and investment

• Communities and place

• Multiply programme

Work is now being carried out on finalising the details of how the money will be spent in the Falkirk area and submitted to the UK government for final approval around Autumn 2022.

Some of the initial proposals put forward by Falkirk Council officers are listed below.

Proposals include improvements to tourism to encourage more visitors to stay longer in the local area. Several grants will be offered to provide digital, resilience and energy efficiency solutions to businesses.

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In addition, plans to recruit more advisers and experts to engage with local businesses and help them improve their prosperity.

People, skills and investment

Offer support through providing a wide range of employability skills and training to those who experience real difficulties in finding jobs as well as improving opportunities for those already in low paid and low skill jobs. This will include working in partnership with Forth Valley College.

Improving dignified access to affordable food working with third sector partners. Offering grants to support the arts, heritage, community safety and improve safety in town centres. Support active travel around the extensive Falkirk canal network.

Multiply programme

A new programme involving Falkirk Council, Forth Valley College and wider stakeholders would be developed to specifically focus on numeracy and maths skills with local client groups to improve employability skills. This would also feature working with local employers.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said: "We have already spoken with local partners, businesses leaders and third sector about where this award will best make a difference locally.

"It's clear that areas such as employability, business support and supporting people are priorities and our plans will match these.

"We're finalising the details currently and look forward to submitting these next month to the UK Government for approval.

"Thereafter we will be able to share more widely arrangements as to how the UK Shared Prosperity Funds will be accessed locally."

A final presentation will be made to Falkirk Council's Group Leaders at the end of July 2022 before final submission to UK government.

The plans will be discussed a meeting of Falkirk Council's Executive on the 21 June (available to watch live via Falkirk Council's YouTube channel).