£20m crisis grants paid
Businesses in Perth and Kinross have been handed £20 million in crisis grants during the coronavirus lockdown.
Perth and Kinross Council, which is administering the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus Business Support Fund locally, has received 2673 applications or support in just over a month. With over 2000 applications already processed, vital financial assistance payments totalling £20.05 million have been made to companies in the presently uncertain economic environment.
Grants of £10,000 and £25,000 are available.
The £10,000 grant is open to businesses who have a rateable value of up to £18,000 and are in receipt of the small business bonus scheme or rural relief. Firms can also get this grant if they applied for nursery relief or disabled relief but are eligible for the small business bonus scheme.
Retail, hospitality and leisure business ratepayers with a rateable value between £18,001 and £50,999 can apply for one-off grants of £25,000.
Karen Reid, chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “Providing support to businesses during these unprecedented times is a key element of the council’s current work.
“We had a huge response when the Coronavirus Business Support Fund opened for applications at the end of March, and already a significant proportion of those applications have resulted in grant payments.
“There are still several hundred applications for us to process and I would like to reassure anyone who has not received a response yet that we will carry out the required work as quickly as we can.
“If there are any businesses who are eligible for crisis grants but haven’t yet applied, I would encourage them to visit our website and apply now.
“In addition, we can help provide advice on business rates relief and can assist businesses looking to establish new markets with specific development grants. Regular updates are also available through our business bulletins, sent by email to all who have signed up.”
Further information can be found online at https:// www.pkc.gov.uk/ coronavirus/business