Stirling Council has been allocated £4.3 million from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund to support local groups and businesses over the next three years.

The council has announced that applications for the 2024/2025 financial year are now open, with £700,000 available for use against three investment priorities:

• Communities and Place – fostering a sense of local pride and building resilient, healthy and safe neighbourhoods

• Supporting Local Business – creating jobs, promoting networking and increasing private sector investment

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• People and Skills – supporting adults to progress in work, supporting people to overcome barriers to work and supporting local areas to fund gaps in local skills provision

Stirling Council leader, Cllr Chris Kane, said: "We welcome the opportunity from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to continue supporting and investing in our local businesses, people and communities.

"This funding will target support to those people and organisations most in need. We want to empower local people and communities and spread opportunities in areas such as employment and public services."

Previous organisations in the Stirling area to receive funding over the last two years include Forth Valley College, Stirling City Heritage Trust, the RSPB for its work in Fallin and local employability and welfare services.

The deadline for applications from across the Stirling area is 15 January 2024, with successful applicants notified by the end of February.