A package of improvements worth £1.5 million to support communities, businesses and boost employment opportunities in Inverclyde has been agreed.

Councillors on Inverclyde Council’s environment and regeneration committee have agreed how the area’s share of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) should be utilised.

The local authority has received just over £1.5m which will be invested in three key priority areas: communities and place, business support, and people and skills.

The external funding will now go towards projects including town centre improvements, community food growing initiatives, business grant and advice to support small and medium sized enterprises, and various employability programmes to help equip residents with the skills they need to get into work.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “This funding will allow us to build on the good work done in the first phase of the Shared Prosperity Fund and invest further in our communities, businesses, and people directly and via some of the many wonderful charitable organisations we have in Inverclyde.

“Supporting new and existing businesses and the third sector organisations and ensuring residents are equipped with the skills they need to move into the world of work are vital for creating employment opportunities for people and growing the local economy.

“It all ties in with the ongoing efforts to make Inverclyde an even better place to live, work, visit, and do business.”

The projects which were agreed at committee are:

Communities and Place

1. Town Centre Improvements: to support work in Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock town centres. (£695,195)
2. Invergrow: to continue this project to ensure the sustainability of community growers and the Inverclyde Community Food Network. (£40,000)
3. Parklea HUB and Gardens: continue to support this to make the facility and surrounding area more accessible. (£40,000)

Local Business

1. CVS Inverclyde ‘Inverclyde Community Enterprise Programme’: to build sustainability to the work previously delivered with local social enterprises and support them to review their income generation sources and partnership/collaborative working options. (£50,000)
2. Inverclyde in Business: give business advice, support and grants to new and existing SME businesses to help them start-up, grow, remain resilient and receive grants towards equipment, digital skills, marketing and training. (£230,000)
3. Town Centre Vibrancy: grants to support town centre businesses. (£50,000)

People and Skills

1. Youth Volunteering Programme with CVS Inverclyde: to continue and build on the programme for school leavers. (£60,000)
2. Parklea Branching Out Life and Work Skills: to continue and build upon employability services for people with autism and/or additional support needs. (£65,194)
3. Inverclyde Council and Street League, Steps 2 Progression: a focused employability programme for young people aged 16-19. (£120,000)
4. Inverclyde Council Progress to Employment: Support people to move closer to employment. (£200,000)

The council was previously awarded more than £3.5m from the UK SPF over a three-year period from 2022/25.

The external funding was spent on 17 projects, including lighting in Battery Park, improving landscaping around the Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture, business development grants, youth volunteering, and volunteering opportunities.

The SPF has now been extended for a further year until 2026 through the Glasgow City Region Investment Plan.

The committee report is available on the Inverclyde Council website at https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/3750  and a recording of the meeting is available on the council’s YouTube channel.