This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister on fact-finding trip to South
13/08/2003
Lewis Macdonald will see first hand today how European funding is helping local projects and boosting the economy in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway areas.
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning's fact-finding visit to the area will also enable him to see how Executive programmes are helping youngsters into their first jobs.
MOUNTAIN BIKING, PEEBLES:
Centres of excellence for mountain biking across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway area have already boosted local employment and tourist numbers. Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Lewis Macdonald will see for himself the initial success of the project when he visits one of the completed centres later today (Wednesday).
The 7stanes Mountain Biking Project at Glentress Forest near Peebles is one of a network of seven state of the art mountain biking centres currently being created by the Forestry Commission Scotland. FCS is working with local partners on the projects, which have been awarded £916,000 match European structural funds over three years.
"I'm impressed to see how local areas can take advantage of the increase in mountain biking to boost the economy and add value to the area's vital tourism industry," said Mr Macdonald.
"The Borders and Dumfries and Galloway regions are ideally placed for these projects, with their fantastic scenery and the commitment of the Forestry Commission Scotland to work with local partners to create centres of excellence" he said.
The total number of jobs created so far is 35, while visitor numbers have been boosted by 176,500. The aim is ultimately to create a total of 93 new jobs across the seven centres over the next three years.
This weekend a major national mountain bike race is being held in Traquair Forest, Innerleithen, just five minutes from Glentress. With over 300 riders attending, the Tweed Valley Forest Park area is providing a massive tourism boost to the Scottish Borders.
DUMFRIES CAREERS CENTRE:
The Minister will meet four young people from Dumfries and Galloway at the Dumfries Careers centre, to discuss with them how their involvement in the Executive's transitions to work programmes have helped them move from school to training and work.
At the nearby Crichton Campus, Mr Macdonald will see how structural funds worth £484,627 are helping to create a regional centre for enterprise, research and training at Browne House.
CRICHTON CAMPUS, DUMFRIES:
Mr Macdonald will launch the Crichton Economic Impact Assessment Review, which details the continuing economic benefits of the Crichton Campus and business park (see Notes to Editors).
"It's encouraging that structural funds can make a real difference to local economies. At the Crichton Campus the new centre will further strengthen the area's competitiveness as a location for small and medium sized businesses - good news for the people and the economy of Dumfries and Galloway," he said.
NORTH WEST DUMFRIES RESOURCE CENTRE PROJECT:
Mr Macdonald will also see how local services including childcare, employment training and business advice will be provided under the one roof of the nearby North West Dumfries Resource Centre project.
European funding worth £677,916 is contributing to the total project cost of £1,431,202, which involves converting Lincluden House, a former care home. Other funding is provided by the Executive and Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway.
The Deputy Minister will see work in progress at the Resource Centre, before presenting certificates to the Centre's first European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) graduates.
ETTRICK AND YARROW MILL COMPLEX, SELKIRK:
At Selkirk, he will review progress of the refurbishment of the old Ettrick and Yarrow Mill complex, a Grade A listed property in the centre of Selkirk Riverside Industrial area.
More than £1 million European funds have been awarded to the project, which will cost a total of £2,897,495. This will transform the traditional mill complex into a Business Creation Centre fit for the 21 st century, with workspaces, small incubation units and training facilities.
"It's particularly important that the business facilities we help to provide are of high quality, helping to achieve the aims of our economic strategy, Smart Successful Scotland.
"The project at Ettrick is a fine and imaginative example of transforming traditional but outdated buildings into state of the art business facilities, helping to create and sustain business in the area," said Mr Macdonald