North businesses set to receive grant aid through Covid-19 scheme, local authority announces
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Businesses across the Highlands are starting to receive grants via the Covid-19 Business Grant Scheme, Highland Council says.
The scheme, which now includes self-catering premises, will bring more than £94 million in emergency funding to around 10,000 Highland businesses.
Since its launch by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Highland MSP Kate Forbes on March 24, Highland Council has set up a dedicated team to manage the grants and establish a system that can process large daily volumes of applications while ensuring the money reaches the right businesses.
With the newly created grant scheme now operational and 334 business grants already processed, with a total value of £4 million, the council is scaling up its efforts and redeploying staff from their current duties to help manage it.
Over the coming week the team will increase to more than 40 staff, working towards a target of processing more than 350 applications every day.
Reflecting the financial pressure facing businesses, within days of the launch of the scheme the council had received nearly 3000 applications for assistance, creating a significant backlog of applications.
A council spokesman said: "The applications are being processed in the order they were received and it is regretful but inevitable that not all the applications will be processed within the 10 working days target. The council is working tirelessly to minimise any delays in payments."
Businesses who have not applied are encouraged to visit here or here to determine whether they are eligible for either the Small Business Grant or the Self-Catering Business Grant.
Applicants are asked to follow the guidance offered to ensure they submit an accurate and complete application form together with requested evidence.
