Constituted groups and organisations in Renfrewshire will be able to bid for a share of £800,000 in council cash to deliver artificial pitches.
A range of criteria for the grant funding has been set as the local authority looks to drive investment in sports facilities in the area.
Bids can be submitted for up to £400,000 – which must be used as match funding – for land either owned or leased by the organisation.
A report to Wednesday’s leadership board explained: “Renfrewshire Council has almost £800,000 to invest and award to relevant constituted groups, charities and organisations to support local grassroots sports organisations and clubs to deliver ‘new build’ artificial pitches. These will be fully managed and operated by the applicant’s organisation.
“Applications may be awarded up to the sum of £400,000. Applicants must have funds (or be actively seeking funds) that is match funding (or very close to) for this grant.
“Artificial pitches (which may be from a range of durable types) will be awarded from this funding stream.
“Fencing, goals, flood lights or associated structures/accessories may be considered as part of this fund, however, wherever possible, these should be funded from an alternative source.
“There must be evidence that the works will increase the provision of use in Renfrewshire.”
Applications can either be made for a medium (£100,000 to £200,000) or large (£200,000 to £400,000) allocation.
Successful bids will go before the leadership board following discussion at the grants approval panel.
Councillor Iain McMillan, Labour group leader and representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “I don’t think it will come as any surprise to anybody in this room that I certainly welcome this.
“I know there will be a few clubs within the Renfrewshire area who will be ready to go with this as soon as it’s more formally announced in terms of inviting bids, so I think this is a terrific piece of work.”
Councillor Marie McGurk, an SNP representative for Paisley Southeast, added: “I would just echo that. This has been a long time waiting and I think it’s amazing that we’re now here and we can now see that.”
The funding was allocated as part of the administration’s 2024/25 budget at the end of February.
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