£20 million has been paid out to date in crisis grants to Perth and Kinross businesses during the current coronavirus lockdown.
Perth & Kinross Council is administering the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus Business Support Fund locally; since the Fund opened just over a month ago, 2,673 applications have been submitted to the Council’s Business Rates team.
With over 2000 applications already processed, vital financial assistance payments totalling £20.05 million have been made to local 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 – £50,999 can apply for one-off grants of £25,000.
Karen Reid, Chief Executive of Perth & 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.