A £35.7m investment will see 300 projects improved across rural Scotland in the latest round of Rural Priorities.
The funding supports a range of business development measures and helps tackle some of the Scottish Government's key priorities by enhancing biodiversity, increasing renewable energy and reducing the effects of climate change.
The total investment will safeguard 400 jobs and create 500 new jobs across rural Scotland.
This is the eighth round of approvals from Rural Priorities and brings the total number of projects approved by Rural Priorities to 4,850 since the scheme's launch in 2008, worth some £378m.
Case studies include £33,926 for W Colquhoun and Son at Burnbrae Farm, Gartocharn to build a new cattle shed and cattle handling facilities, improving animal welfare, protecting the farmers' own safety when working on the farm, and improving business productivity.
Rural Priorities is a competitive funding mechanism under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which is designed to develop rural Scotland from 2007 to 2013.
Individuals and groups may seek funding from the programme to help deliver the Government's strategic objectives in rural Scotland.
Rural Priorities delivers targeted environmental, social and economic benefits to 11 designated regions. The priorities for each region are agreed with local stakeholders, and contracts are awarded for the proposals which are best able to deliver those priorities.
Its key outcomes are to contribute to improved business viability and competitiveness, improved water quality, adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change, protection and enhancement of biodiversity and landscapes and sustainable rural communities.
Rural Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "By investing a further £35.7m in rural Scotland we are providing welcome support to our economy, helping to create new businesses and kick-start a wide range of projects to tackle climate change and enhance biodiversity."
Further information:
Scottish Government
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