New entrants to farming, renewable energy, forestry and farm business projects are among the first to receive funding from Scotland's innovative rural investment programme, it was announced today.

A total of 81 proposals have been awarded funding totalling £5.9m under the Rural Priorities scheme and successful applicants will be notified shortly.

Rural Priorities is part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), the aims of which include the sustainable economic development of Scotland's rural communities.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: "I am absolutely delighted to see Rural Priorities starting to bear fruit. These projects empower rural communities and put them in charge of their own destiny.

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"The proposals are of the highest quality and show there is real appetite among communities to become part of Scotland's rural revolution."

Mr Lochhead said those that have been successful represent a hugely diverse range of activities, including the expansion and modernisation of a dairy business in Tayside.

On the forestry side, the green light has been given to a project that will contribute to the restoration of a 40 acre site of ancient woodland in the Highlands, which includes the protection of an archaeological site.

"I am also particularly pleased to see a number of excellent renewable energy projects approved, including the installation of a biomass boiler on an organic farm on Mull and a wood chip production and supply business in Grampian," he added.

There are now almost 3,000 registrations of interest in the system and regular assessment rounds being held right up to 2013.

There will be numerous opportunities for farmers, foresters and other rural businesses as well as community groups to take advantage of what's on offer and deliver for rural Scotland.

(GK/JM)