The team behind ambitious plans to secure a growth deal for Moray met government officials yesterday to discuss the progress on the bid for funding.
It is the first time the team has had the opportunity to present its case to representatives from both the UK and Scottish Governments.
The workshop in Edinburgh gave officials the chance to consider the projects put forward by the Moray Growth Deal team and to help refine them.
Moray Growth bid gathers momentum as steering group heads to Holyrood
Talks were expected to include discussions on the amount of money needed to deliver the projects and whether they would deliver inclusive growth across the Moray region.
The Moray Growth Deal is a long-term plan aimed at bringing in projects to help transform the economy encourage young people to live and work in the area and address gender inequality in employment.
Under the plans are proposals for a cultural quarter in Elgin, encompassing Cooper Park, the Town Hall and Grant Lodge, and a new gas pipeline to allow the town’s businesses to expand.
Following the meeting, the Scottish Government said: “The meeting was about outlining all the different plans and bringing it all to the table to start the discussions.
“It’s still in its very early stages so it was mainly the scope of the project that was talked about.”
Earlier in the week, Moray business leaders held a meeting for the first time to discuss the “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the region,
The Moray Growth Deal Business Assembly was set up to help connect the public sector with organisations in the local community.
Representatives from several local businesses, including Gordon & MacPhail, Diageo and Forsyths attended the event in Rothes on Wednesday.
Former managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, Michael Urquhart, chaired the assembly. He said: “We had some interesting discussions around the table today at what will be the first of many regular meetings of the Moray Growth Deal Business Assembly.
“It was great to see such a diversity of businesses representing the Moray commercial community. It is so important as we progress with the political process of securing a growth deal for Moray that we involve local businesses in what is likely to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the region.
“I know that there is a lot of enthusiasm for the Growth Deal from the Moray business community and my hope is that the assembly will allow them to harness this enthusiasm and act as a critical friend in this process.”