The funding will help with the design costs for a potential £12m path between Hawick and Selkirk.
Hundreds of dog handlers from 34 nations are in the Scottish Borders for the "sheepdog Olympics".
Competitors from 34 different nations are at Huntington Farm near Lauder for the Sheepdog World Trial.
Council lawyers mounted a legal challenge after their objection was not considered by the Scottish government
The collision, involving a black BMW 530e and a yellow Fiat 500 Abarth, happened on the A701 at Hearthstane.
Increases in insurance and public liability cover have left many of them facing a funding shortfall.
About 130,000 households in Scotland rely on the fuel to warm their homes.
Stuart Brandon Donald, from East Lothian, was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday afternoon.
Police were called to the road between Lauder and Galashiels after a crash between a car and a motorbike.
