Paisley Daily Express

£3.3m grants awarded to desperate small firms in Renfrewshi­re

Council approves emergency support to businesses

- STEPH BRAWN LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

Renfrewshi­re businesses have benefited from more than £3.3million of support from the Scottish Government.

To help mitigate the impact of the coronaviru­s pandemic, the government’s Coronaviru­s Business Support Grant funds have started to arrive in firms’ bank accounts.

Council chiefs approved more than 300 applicatio­ns in four days to ensure muchloved local firms got the support they needed quickly.

Many businesses have been forced to shut or severely limit operations as part of a nationwide bid to slow the spread of the killer virus.

A total of 279 small businesses have received a one-off grant of £10,000, while a further 23 from hospitalit­y, leisure and retail have benefited from grants of £25,000.

Renfrewshi­re Council leader Iain Nicolson said officers have acted quickly to get support to those who need it .

“We recognise the impact that the current situation is having on businesses and employees throughout Renfrewshi­re and we want to ensure that support is available to help through these difficult times,” he said.

“Our teams are working round the clock to ensure that applicatio­ns are processed as quickly as possible and this has seen us award more than £ 3.3million to Renfrewshi­re businesses already.

“This grant funding is one of a series of measures providing vital support to businesses at this difficult time, with all the details available on the council website.

“We ask all applicants to ensure they follow the guidance on our website and complete the applicatio­n fully, with all the correct documentat­ion required, to ensure we can process this without delay.”

The funding is part of a number of measures now available to support firms, employees and the self-employed.

The Job Retention Scheme, VAT and Income Tax Deferral, Business Rates Relief and Self- Employment Income Support Scheme are all on offer to give struggling businesses a boost.

Full details of all the support on offer, with guidance on eligibilit­y and how to apply, are available on the Renfrewshi­re Council website via www. renfrewshi­re. gov. uk/ coronaviru­s-businesses.

 ??  ?? Welcome support
Council leader Iain Nicolson on Paisley High Street , before it was affected by the lockdown
Welcome support Council leader Iain Nicolson on Paisley High Street , before it was affected by the lockdown
 ??  ?? Help Businesses in Causeyside Street have received the support grants
Help Businesses in Causeyside Street have received the support grants

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