FUNDING is available for food businesses, producers and groups to help promote and champion produce in the Wee County.

Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund has launched its fifth round with £100,000 available from the Scottish Government to support regional food activity.

MSP Keith Brown has welcomed the launch with businesses and groups able to apply for grants of up to £5,000.

The Clackmannanshire and Dunblane representative is encouraging those eligible to apply and to work collaboratively with others to achieve food and drink success in the region.

Mr Brown said: “Scotland is absolutely blessed with an astounding natural larder and food and drink sector that has a breadth of skills and depth of imagination that is absolutely world class.

“We have a natural bounty that we can all be proud of and which we should make even more of than we do.

“One organisation which has already benefited from this scheme is Forth Valley Food Tales which is a non-profit membership organisation dedicated to showcasing and celebrating Forth Valley's vibrant local food and drink scene and includes the Allanwater Brewhouse from Bridge of Allan in my constituency.

“I know that there are many other producers and providers of great food and produce in my Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency that could get together and benefit from support from this fund.”

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The Scottish Government has provided more than £770,000 to the fund since 2018, supporting 167 collaborative projects, varying from food and drink tourism trails, festivals, equipment and regional marketing campaigns.

The MSP added: “These grants are a way for the Scottish Government to support increased promotion of local produce and the chance for businesses to engage and educate local communities about what is available, and to showcase some of our most exciting food and drink ventures.”

The closing time for applications is 5pm on August 30.

Visit fs22.formsite.com/scotfooddrink/RFF-202425/index for more details and an application form.