The Highlands and islands are to get £18million of European funding to help thousands of people find work.
The region has landed the lion’s share of a £34million investment package revealed by the Scottish Government yesterday.
The money – from two Brussels budgets – will go towards 43 projects in the Highlands and islands, creating 170 jobs and providing more than 5,000 people with help and support to find work.
In a separate development, the Scotland Office has released £467,500 to create 85 jobs for the long-term unemployed in Argyll and Bute.
A total of 500 jobs will be created across Scotland as a result of the two initiatives, revealed by First Minister Alex Salmond and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy at a national jobs summit in Glasgow.
The £18million windfall for the north and the islands is made up of money from the European regional development and social funds.
Highland gets £3.72million, the Western Isles £4.8million, Shetland £2.7million, Orkney £3.9million, Argyll and Bute £200,000 and Moray £340,000.
Highland Council convener Sandy Park said: “These latest approvals will greatly enhance the capacity of Highland-based organisations to assist some of the region’s most deprived and excluded communities to access support services and employment.”
A further £1.6million has been awarded to Dundee Community Planning Partnership, which supports projects such as those to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds get the education necessary to find work.
Mr Salmond said: “This announcement of more than £34million of European funding will deliver vital support such as training opportunities to communities across Scotland, helping 28,000 individuals find fresh employment, while assisting growth, urban regeneration and rural development.”
Mr Murphy said a further 300 jobs would be created in Argyll and Bute and Fife.
He said: “The signs are that Scotland is, thankfully, through the worst but things will still be difficult for many people and it’s absolutely imperative that we don’t allow unemployment to continue to rise.
“That’s why we are here to make sure that we continue to work together towards economic recovery as team Scotland.”
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