Fife Council hopes to use a Scottish Government funding boost to mitigate the impact of Longannet Power Station’s closure.
The local authority will be bidding for a share of a £10 million allocation to support local economies.
It follows the announcement of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland, which is a broad action plan setting out plans for education, public services and communities.
Council leader David Ross said: “I believe the announcement from the Scottish Government provides a possible answer to the calls that Fife Council and local authority partners have made for additional resources to support economic growth in our local communities, particularly those affected by economic closures.
“Council officers will now work the Scottish Government to explore how a proportion of this money can be allocated to support new capital investment projects in Fife, including key priorities identified in the Longannet Task Force Economic Recovery Action Plan.”
The Scottish Government economic stimulus package is to support 16 projects across Scotland, including a £10 million local economic development capital investment support fund.
Fife Council is the lead partner within the Fife Task Force and Longannet Task Force and any new resources allocated by the Scottish Government would be used to create sustainable benefits for local residents and businesses within Fife.
The council said it would also continue to align existing resources and to identify partners to ensure that those communities within Fife most in need of improved economic infrastructure receive this.
Mr Ross added: “The recognition that local economic development capital investment projects provide jobs and enterprise opportunities is important for Fife. It endorses Fife Council approach to date, which has been to promote the Kingdom as the best place to live, work and invest.”
Depute Fife Council Leader Lesley Laird added: “The allocation of new resources for local economic development projects within Fife would enable Fife Council and its partners to support existing employment sectors and jobs and also support the provision of new business infrastructure that could help to attract additional inward investment into the area.”
