Highland Council issues more than 1000 business grant payments during coronavirus pandemic
Following the establishment of a dedicated Highland Council team and system to manage the Covid-19 Business Grant scheme, the number of and value of grants to businesses in the region is increasing daily.
On today alone business grants were awarded to 233 businesses, to the value of £2.84 million, which took the overall total to more than 1000 businesses and total grants secured to more than £12.8 million.
Over the coming week the council is planning to increase the team involved in processing the grants, as it seeks to move towards the processing of more than 350 grant awards per day.
Reflecting the financial crisis generated by coronavirus, it is not surprising that within days of the grant scheme being launched on March 24 thousands of applications were received.
This increased again when the Scottish Government opened the scheme to self-catering businesses, creating a significant backlog of applications.
The applications are being processed in date order received and hence, it is regretful but inevitable, that not all the applications will be processed within the 10 working days target.
In response to businesses wanting to know when their application for grant will be processes, over the coming week the council will be focussing on dealing with the backlog and ensuring that all applications received are complete with the evidence required.
The council will then be getting back in touch to let businesses know that their applications have been received and they are being processed.
On Tuesday the Scottish Government announced a second phase of funding – this new package of measures includes £120 million to extend the Small Business Grant scheme to ensure that, in addition to a 100 per cent grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75 per cent grant on all subsequent properties.
A further £100 million fund is also being made available to protect self-employed people and viable micro and SME businesses in distress due to Covid-19.
Applications for the £100 million fund are open until the end of the month, and the new arrangements for the Small Business Grant will be in place to receive applications on May 5.
Details on the Small Business Grant and application forms can be found here.
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