CLYDEBANK has been given a mini jobs boost.

Regeneration officials were handed a grant of £350,000 from the Scottish Government to help drive forward a business creation scheme.

The cash injection comes as workshops in John Knox Street are fully occupied.

This has created a waiting list at a time when the Clydebank Re-built Urban Regeneration Company is keen to build workshops at the Clydebank East site.

Officials reckon the £350,000 will help them raise another £250,000.

Both sums will then boost the total budget for the project to £2.1m.

Clydebank Re-built's managing director Eleanor McAllister, said: "We are delighted the Scottish Government has recognised the success of our workshops programme.

"The money will help create more than 20 jobs in the area and allow us to take forward the development of the Clydebank East site for workshops and small factory units off Glasgow Road.

"Clydebank East will build on the success and demand of the John Knox Street workshops nearby which are bucking the economic trend with a waiting list."

Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, said: "Community regeneration remains a significant platform of our regeneration strategy and today's announcement reflects our commitment to support communities to make a difference locally.

"Clydebank Re-built is addressing a fundamental need locally to create more workshop space.

"As we continue to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and new business start-ups, we need to put the infrastructure in place to support business generation, jobs and economic growth."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk