£14m virus support for businesses
Stirling Council has so far paid out more than £14 million in grants to 1200 businesses as part of the Coronavirus Business Grant Support Scheme.
The news comes as the Scottish Government announced this week a second phase of funding worth £220 million to help smaller businesses and the self-employed. This additional support will be available from early May.
Stirling businesses that meet the scheme eligibility criteria can apply for cash grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 as part of a Business Support Fund set up by the Scottish Government.
The Business Grant Support Scheme aims to keep businesses operating, protect jobs and promote economic recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The council says its officers have been working flat out to ensure the timely and effective processing of the grants so that they reach those businesses in need.
The application process is available until March 31 2021. All successful grant applications will simply be paid into the nominated bank account.
Further information and the online application form is available at www.stirling. gov.uk/ coronavirusbusinessfund.
Finance and economy convener Councillor Margaret Brisley said: “We know that businesses across Stirling are facing an incredibly difficult time due to the financial issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“That’s why our officers have been working as hard as possible to ensure the swift processing of these applications, in accordance with government guidelines, helping businesses get the right support and financial aid that they are entitled to.
“These grants have been issued to such a wide range of organisations so far, with many more still to come, keeping local businesses operating, saving jobs and helping them recover from the huge impact of the coronavirus.”
Grants of £10,000 are available to ratepayers of properties with specified uses in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) or Rural Relief, or those eligible for SBBS but in receipt of Nursery Relief, Disabled Relief, the Business Growth Accelerator Relief or Fresh Start.
Grants of £25,000 are available to ratepayers of properties with specified uses in the leisure, hospitality and retail sectors with a rateable value of between £18,001 and £51,000.