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August 22, 2023
Mighty MICT
One of the very first steps in the journey that eventually became the 350+ member strong network, DTAS, was a visit to the island of Mull. The purpose of the visit was to ask the then manager of Mull and Iona Community Trust, James Hilder, if he thought his board might be willing to become a founder member. Over the years MICT has been something of a pioneer, innovating and developing whatever the island requires in order to build community wealth and support its social economy. Their latest project is just one more in a very long line.
More than 12 businesses are on a waiting list for new units in Tobermory.
To help meet the big demand, a community project supporting business on the island has just secured up to £250,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) is leading the £999.908 project, which is also being supported by the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grants Fund, administered by Argyll and Bute Council.
The funding means they can now build four new units, each 90 square metres, and two new 100 square metre fenced compounds in the Nonhebel Park Estate for businesses wanting to expand, or for new start-up enterprises.
The park’s first phase was completed in 2020, with six business units, eight lock up units, fenced compounds and 20 self-storage units. Despite delays caused by the pandemic, all of this was fully occupied by March 2022, supporting 20 local businesses and 49 jobs.
Moray Finch, general manager of MICT said: “We now have the resources in place to build on the massive success of the first phase of Nonhebel Park, which achieved 100 per cent occupancy within two years of opening, despite the opening coinciding with the first lockdowns of the pandemic. We are confident that the effect of this support will further strengthen the sustainability of our community on Mull.”
And Morag Goodfellow, HIE’s area manager for Argyll and the Islands, added: “This is a great project by MICT that will enable local businesses to grow, support year-round local employment, and strengthen community resilience in a rural island location.”