Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced support for almost 80 organisations delivering regeneration projects, to realise the economic potential of Scotland's communities.

Ms Forbes confirmed that more than £2.5 million has been allocated from the Strengthening Communities Programme in 2025-26 to continue supporting 62 organisations and begin work with a further 15.

The funding will address various challenges across Scotland's communities, such as employability, population retention, a need for housing, and the expansion of community food hubs.

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Now in its 13th year, the programme has helped hundreds of local organisations to bring economic, social, and environmental benefits to their local communities.

The Deputy First Minister announced the funding during a visit to a former vacant department store in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, which was transformed into a community and enterprise hub with the help of previous Scottish Government funding.

Ms Forbes said: "Local communities are best placed to address their own needs, identify improvements in their areas, and realise their own economic potential. That is why community-led regeneration is a key priority for the Scottish Government."

Jamie Wilkinson, Chair of Huntly Development Trust, which led the redevelopment of the Huntly hub, said that the programme's funding was "crucial" in the trust's formative years. He added that without this "early support," the trust could not have grown and achieved what it has.