Aberdeenshire councillors have granted £160,000 funding to help a Fraserburgh enterprise project flourish.
The Fraserburgh Enterprise Hub initially intended to move into the Faithlie Centre but due to delays it was forced to look for a temporary home.
The project still hopes the relocation will happen. In the meantime, it is gathering pace under the leadership of Elevator, a social enterprise supporting businesses, who employ two staff members to run the Fraserburgh “one-stop-shop”.
Since starting in April 2018, with funding from the Leader programme and the Fraserburgh Regeneration Action Plan, the project has helped to boost local entrepreneurialism and benefit existing companies.
But Leader can only support the project until September 2020 and yesterday the Banff and Buchan area committee unanimously agreed to grant the project £159,778 to extend the project until September 2021.
Committee chairman Andy Kille said: “The Hub has been a fantastic facility and has made a huge contribution to the area.
“I’m very happy to support the sterling job they have been doing to help local business start-ups.”
Fraserburgh councillors all spoke out in support of the grant, with Charles Buchan emphasising the potential for continued job creation.
Doreen Mair congratulated Elevator for “giving entrepreneurs confidence”, while Brian Topping called the project “a whole range of good news so far”.
Councillor John Cox raised queries on what the money would actually be spent on and officers assured him it was for the general costs of the project.
The grant was approved unanimously and, after the meeting, MP David Duguid praised the decision.
He said: “This is great news for the town and a real vote of confidence in the work of the enterprise hub so far.
“I have visited the current premises on School Street and I have been struck by the positive impact this project has already had on the local area.
“It is great to see the council backing local enterprise in Fraserburgh.”