Businesses in the Highlands hit by new coronavirus measures start receiving closure grants from council
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Hundreds of Highland businesses forced to close under the latest coronavirus lockdown measures will begin receiving payments from today.
The Business Closure Grant is a Scottish Government scheme, administered by Highland Council, which gives grants of £2000 and £3000 to businesses who have had to close due to the Covid-19 protective measures introduced on Boxing Day.
Councillor Trish Robertson, chairwoman of the economy and infrastructure committee said staff had been working flat out over the last few weeks to process over 3300 applications.
"The first 1600 businesses will receive their grants today and over the coming days, we will be making payment for all the eligible applications we received up to Friday January 22," she said.
"We will then process applications as we receive them and resolve any outstanding eligibility issues experienced with some of the applications already received.
"There are still many eligible businesses who have yet to apply for this grant scheme.
"We therefore ask that business owners look at our website and take the 15 minutes needed to read the guidance, gather the bank and business evidence required and to apply using our online form.
"If after doing this you do not think you are eligible please refer to our guidance on the website on the other grant schemes that are available or proposed by the Scottish Government.
"While our priority remains to get the Closure Grant paid, we have just received details from the Scottish Government that will now allow us to pay eligible businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors, a top-up grant.
"Depending on your sector and size of business, top-up grants between the value of £6000 to £25,000 are available."
As long as businesses have applied for either a Business Restriction or Closure Grant, eligible businesses need not do anything as the appropriate payment will be sent from the council automatically.
For more information, visit www.highland.gov.uk/strategicframeworkfund
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