CASH handed out to businesses in Argyll and Bute to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic has topped the £17 million mark, according to the local council.

The authority says that as of Sunday, April 26, it had approved 1,405 applications for small business support grants of £10,000, and 134 applications for grants of £25,000 to support larger retail, leisure and hospitality firms – a total of £17.4m.

Argyll and Bute Council is responsible for the local administration of Scottish Government business support schemes set up to help small and medium-sized companies get through the coronavirus lockdown.

Council leader, and Helensburgh councillor, Aileen Morton said: “Getting as much support to as many local businesses as possible has been one of our key priorities over the past few weeks.

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“Credit due to all of the staff who have been working incredibly hard on this, including those who transferred over from their normal work to help process grant applications.

“We are already working on recovery plans so that we are ready, as soon as restrictions lessen, to help businesses and communities rebuild.”

The deadline for applications for financial support is March 31, 2021.

More information is available at argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-businesses.

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