FABIANI WELCOMES LATEST JOBS GRANT BOOST FOR EAST KILBRIDE

Linda Fabiani MSP has welcomed the announcement of the latest round of grant funding to support jobs in East Kilbride.

In his speech to SNP annual conference, First Minister Alex Salmond announced £19 million of Scottish Government grants to Scottish businesses, including East Kilbride company Premium Mobile Distribution Ltd which will receive £75,000 to create five new jobs

The funding will come from Regional Selective Assistance, the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry, which provides grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment.

The First Minister said:

“It is particularly important in the current economic climate that we use all of the tools available to boost and stimulate Scotland’s economy.

“RSA helps to attract investment into our communities, creating opportunities for employment and supporting much needed jobs, which will increase growth and ensure a strong economic recovery.”

Welcoming the news, SNP MSP Ms Fabiani said that her home constituency of East Kilbride has particularly benefited from RSA grants. She said:

“At least one East Kilbride company has accepted an RSA grant in every quarter since the SNP Scottish Government was elected.

“The First Minister’s latest announcement of the award to Premium Mobile Distribution brings the value of grants accepted by East Kilbride employers to over £3,800,000, supporting 207 new jobs and safeguarding many more existing ones.

“There is no doubt that East Kilbride has taken a hit from Gordon Brown’s recession and a lot of jobs have been lost in the town.

“But this kind of targeted investment by the Scottish Government helps to provide a sound basis for helping East Kilbride to not only stay on its feet but also for the local economy to recover and grow in the long term.”