Alongside this international spotlight on the town, there has also been encouraging progress closer to home around regeneration and future investment for Galashiels.
During a recent visit to the town, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes spent time in Galashiels to see some of the projects being developed as part of a wider £20 million Scottish Government investment aimed at supporting town regeneration across the South of Scotland. One of the projects visited was MacArts, which is being considered for future support.
The funding programme is designed to help create jobs, attract visitors and support long term economic growth, with the potential to deliver lasting benefits not just for individual towns but for the wider Borderlands economy.
Scottish Borders Council has highlighted the strength of the work being carried out by volunteer led town teams across the region, including here in Galashiels. These teams have been developing proposals that reflect local priorities and put communities at the centre of regeneration plans.
Town teams are now preparing detailed business cases ahead of final funding decisions. In Galashiels, projects under consideration include new affordable housing and retail space.
Around 30 projects across the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are expected to benefit through the Borderlands Growth Deal Place Programme, which will run until 2031.
For Galashiels, this marks another positive step forward. It reflects the ambition that exists locally and the opportunities that can emerge when communities, volunteers and partners work together with a shared focus on the future of the town.
