Projects in Moray and the Highlands will benefit from £1.7m of Scottish Government backing to help community regeneration.
Elgin Youth Development Group and Fort William Marina & Shoreline Association are among 21 nationwide town centre groups which have received investment offers through the Town Centre Communities Capital Fund (TCCCF).
The Elgin team run the town’s Youth Cafe on Francis Place and will use the £100,000 award to launch the Inkwell Community Hub Build Phase 2, which will offer additional catering and support facilities in the cafe to local groups and projects.
The Fort William group plans to use its £150,000 grant to install a berthing station where cruise passengers can step ashore at the town’s west end car park.
Scott Fiske, 15, of the Elgin Youth Development Group, said: “We are delighted to receive the funding. The Inkwell is our social hub, which groups and committees can hire out for different events. That money is reinvested into the cafe, which will improve it as well.
“The hub includes training kitchens and a range of other different things.”
Sarah Kennedy, Marina & Shoreline Association secretary, said the money would create two 39ft pontoons — a 78ft berth.
She added: “It is mainly for cruise ships so that they can berth tenders and transport passengers safely and efficiently from ship to shore.
“Fort William is a great location for cruise ships, because half the passengers will go on trips to places such as Glenfinnan and Drumnadrochit to see all that Loch Ness has to offer, and half will stay in town and hopefully provide a boost to the local shops.”
Social justice secretary Alex Neil said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce this support for community organisations across Scotland.
“The £1.7m fund will give enterprising communities the chance to take forward improvements to their area that complement our Town Centre Action Plan.
“By giving community organisations the opportunities to take action, we can help make town centres the attractive and accessible thriving places we know they can be.”