More than £10m paid out to support stricken Moray businesses
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THE amount paid out to prop up Moray businesses through the COVID-19 crisis has now topped £10 million.
Moray Council teams have worked fast under pressure to get the support grants out to desperate local businesses.
Between April 6-28, some 851 grants of £10,000 have been paid out, totalling £8,510,000, and a further 68 payments of £25,000 have gone to larger businesses, totalling £1,700,000.
However, a large number of local firms have still not applied for the cash support and are being encouraged to reach out.
The council has drafted in extra staff to work through the assessment and processing of the applications to get the much-needed grant aid into local business accounts as quickly as possible.
Manager of the council’s taxation team, James Taylor, said his team had pulled out all the stops to help local firms.
He said: "The team realised very early on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on businesses, and has concentrated all available staff on the prompt assessment of grant applications.
"We’ve tried to turn around the large number of grant applications as quickly as possible, concentrating its efforts on getting payments to businesses. It is pleasing to see that so much money has been quickly distributed."
The money is part of the government’s support package to business, and is in addition to the HMRC furlough scheme. Once approved, the council’s payments teams ensure quick transfer direct into bank accounts of applicants.
Leader of Moray Council, Councillor Graham Leadbitter, praised the team effort.
He said: "To get such a high percentage of emergency business grant applications processed and over £10 million awarded in such a short space of time is a really excellent job of work by our revenues and payments teams.
"This money is vital to the 900-plus Moray businesses that are being supported by these grants.
"There will be much, much more to do in the coming months but with the commitment and support shown already by our council staff, staff in partner agencies like Highlands & Islands Enterprise and the close working relationships with business representatives, we will do our absolute utmost to get the best recovery for Moray."
Chief executive of Moray Chamber of Commerce Sarah Medcraf thanked council staff, on behalf of the local business community, for completing so many grant payments in double-quick time.
She said: "For applications which have no complications, Moray Council has achieved paying this crucial money to businesses within the agreed 10 working days.
"This has been particularly well received where businesses have had to use this money to pay their staff until the furlough scheme pays them this week.
"There is still a large number of businesses that have not applied for this lifeline grant – so double-check if you are eligible and reach out."
Business owners can apply for the grants on Moray Council’s website here.
