Update on Covis-19 Business Hardship Fund payments in Highland
31st October 2020
The Highland Council has been making good progress with paying out grants on behalf of the Scottish Government's COVID-19 Business Hardship Fund. Since applications opened on 20th October 2020.
262 grants to Highland businesses have been approved and any new applications are being processed on the day they are received.
The original grant values of £1,000 and £1,500 were increased to £1440 and £2155 respectively to reflect the extension to the restriction period and the Council has automatically paid the new, higher amount to all applicants so as to avoid the need for businesses to make multiple applications.
Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Trish Robertson said: "Despite the good progress to date we are aware that many Highland businesses who are eligible to receive this grant have still not applied. We urgently ask that get their application in as soon as possible to us, as the scheme closes to new applications at 5pm on Tuesday 3rd November."
Businesses are asked to go to the Council's COVID-19 Business Grant page on its website and check to ensure that they meet the full range of eligibility criteria. Eligible businesses are then asked to complete the online application form accurately and in full while ensuring that they submit the specified evidence.
If businesses get completed applications to us with the right evidence, they will receive the grant in their bank account within days.
Businesses eligible for the grant are those that have been obliged by law to close or restrict their opening hours or operating practice directly because of the restrictions introduced on 9th October. Essentially this applies to licenced premises such as hotels, restaurants, pubs and some cafes.
A further element of the scheme is designed to support local producer/wholesale businesses that supply primarily short-life goods or produce to the businesses which have been required by the regulations to close or operate in a restricted way and can evidence a 25% reduction in turnover during the brake period.