£200k Community Funding Boost for Cumnock & Doon Valley
Community projects across Cumnock and the Doon Valley are set to benefit from a £200,000 windfall.
The 9CC Group, which manages and administers community benefit from local wind farms, has secured advance funding from Invenergy, the developers of the Pencloe site.
Community groups and projects in New Cumnock, Patna, Cumnock, Drongan, Rankinston & Stair and Lugar, Logan and Cronberry are eligible to apply for grants with the biggest share going to New Cumnock which is closest to the development.
Funding is split with £100k for new applications, £70k to continue financing current multi annual commitments plus a £30k contribution to support the roll-out of an electric vehicle initiative across all The 9CC Group areas.
Alex Baird, chair of The 9CC Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to secure such significant advance funding from Invenergy ahead of their Pencloe development coming on stream. There was no legal or statutory requirement to do so but, as a result of our productive relationship and collaborative discussions, they have agreed to give £200k to our communities.
“That will make a huge difference to so many local groups and we would encourage them, and those unsuccessful in the previous rounds, to go to our website for the eligibility criteria and application forms. We want to make a difference by delivering lasting local benefits and supporting the valuable work of many deserving causes and projects.”
The funding round opens on Tuesday May 6, with the closing date for applications on Friday May 30.
New Cumnock will receive £31,508; Patna £18,716; Drongan, Rankinston & Stair £20,998; Cumnock £18,823; and Cronberry, Logan & Lugar £13,406.
“This further tranche of advance funding follows that of the initial funding of £628,000 from Brockwell Energy’s North Kyle site. Brockwell Energy were the first wind farm developers in Scotland to provide community funded benefit ahead of a onstream operations.
“As a charitable organisation acting on behalf of our communities, we have worked hard to establish trust, credibility and industry wide recognition for delivering a best practice model of administering, managing and funding community benefit. That has allowed us to be in a stronger position to negotiate with developers to secure much needed funding as we strive to create lasting legacies and make our communities a better place to live, work, play and visit,” added Mr Baird.
To date, community benefit managed by The 9CC Group has supported 70 local organisations and helped fund 20 apprenticeships.
The 9CC Group has been set up by the nine communities to take control of, and coordinate, the dissemination of community benefit that will arise from the cluster of wind farms being developed in the surrounding area.
Chief Operating Officer Stephen McCarron said: “The Cumnock and Doon Valley area is ideal for developers seeking to site clusters of wind schemes and a significant part of our role is to ensure the communities fully benefit from the funds that will be generated now and over the coming decades.
“Together with political support at all levels, and the backing of our democratically elected community councils, we have a clear mandate to work for the collective benefit of all communities. We have no say or input on planning decisions for wind farm sites but we can have a huge influence on how their funds will be distributed to ensure we all benefit.
“Our model of administering community benefit is now firmly established as the blueprint for the industry and, together with our responsible and open approach to developers, it gives us confidence we can continue to deliver much needed funds for our communities.”
The 9CC Group are currently consulting on the key priorities for strategic and legacy funding. The nine community councils it represents are: Auchinleck; Patna; Ochiltree & Skares; New Cumnock; Netherthird; Cronberry, Lugan & Lugar; Drongan, Rankinston & Stair; Dalmellington; and Cumnock.
For more information please refer to the 9CCG website
Or contact Donald Martin at:
DM Media Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 07711 451330
