Tain community innovation campus aims to create 'a unique tourism destination like no other' in Easter Ross after landing £450K boost
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A TRAILBLAZING Easter Ross community project that aims to counter the impact Covid and Brexit have had on food sector workforce shortages, unemployment and mental health has been given a massive boost.
And hopes are high it will result in "a unique tourism destination like no other".
The vision of a five-acre community innovation campus on the edge of Tain, adjacent to the Lidl superstore, is set to be turned into reality thanks to a £450,000 grant.
The Gro For You campus will offer training in sustainable food production, promote zero waste and deliver courses focused on tackling food poverty and poor mental health.
The site will also include sensory gardens and motorhome waste facilities.
The first-of-its-kind scheme will be located on a prime tourism location just off the A9 and is seen as another building block in wider efforts to promote the Easter Ross Peninsula as a stand-alone visitor attraction, reaping its proximity to the NC500.
The project is a collaboration involving the For You Training, registered as Farmer Jones Academy community interest company (CIC) and Gro For Good CIC collaborating as Gro for You (GFY).
For You Training was co-founded by Sarah Mackenzie and Richard Jones,behind award winning social enterprises. Tain and District Development Trust (TDDT) are also on board.
Its success in the latest round of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) is understood to be one of the biggest investments in Tain for many years.
Sarah Mackenzie said: "It means we can now take our project from concept to reality. As a local resident, I think it's fantastic to see new investment coming into the Tain and Easter Ross area.
"The community innovation campus will offer substantial social, economic, and environmental impact where we aim to close unemployment gaps, drive sector growth, provide innovative and alternative community learning and development opportunities.
"Added to this our use of innovative growing technologies and protection of biodiversity will make for a unique tourism destination like no other."
Planned is a centre of excellence offering alternative community learning and development; a training cafe; growing domes and future technologies to promote sustainable practices in local food production, hospitality, and tourism.
Envisaged are inspiring outdoor learning environments and sensory gardens "that will provide a haven for the community to enjoy a sense of place with associated benefits to their health and wellbeing". A visitor centre managed by the TDDT to promote businesses and tourism activities across the Easter Ross Peninsula is also planned.
Mrs Mackenzie said: "The area does not tend to get a lot of support. It's probably one of the largest investments in Tain for a long time. It's the ground up development that is key here. It will be addressing local needs and providing opportunities for the community as well."
She hopes it will be something that pulls people of the A9 and sees it as a perfect distance between the Glenmorangie Distillery and the town centre – a natural link between the two.
Cllr Ken Gowans, Highland Council's economy and infrastructure committee chairman, called it "terrific news" hailing the project's "ambition to make a real difference".
