Business grant payments well underway to businesses across the Cotswolds
Cotswold District Council is making good progress in processing grant payments to local businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Council has so far approved over 900 payments to firms across the district. This represents in excess of £11 million of cash support.
Councillor Mike Evemy, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We know how stressful a time this is for business owners whose livelihoods have been greatly affected by this pandemic, and our team is working flat out to get this support to them.
“There is still plenty of work to do, and there may be some minor delays in the banking system due to Easter, but we want to reassure business owners that these grants are being processed and the money will reach their bank accounts next week.”
The Council has identified more than 2,500 eligible businesses to which it will be looking to make payments, but is still awaiting key information from many.
“To ensure that businesses get their grants as quickly as possible, we’re requesting all businesses that meet the criteria to fill out and return the ‘Apply for a Business Grant’ form on our website,” adds Cllr Evemy.
The grants, which were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in March, are available to businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Eligible businesses will qualify for one of the grants but not both. Further detail is available on the Council’s website.