Dumfries and Galloway Council has set up a dedicated Economic Recovery Team in response to the economic emergency caused by the current pandemic and we have already managed to send out over £105k of grant support to 10 local businesses within the first 24 hours of the grant scheme going live, one of the first Councils in Scotland to distribute this vital funding.
Our first priority is to help local businesses to access the Scottish Government’s Small Business Grant Scheme which was launched yesterday.
We asked local businesses to get in touch with the team as soon as possible so that we could start the process of getting help to where it is needed most, and we are delighted that you did.
Local businesses receiving this first tranche of funding, included local hotels, guest houses, licenced premises and hairdressers. All have had their trade severely affected by the current restrictions.
The first local business to receive their grant funding said: “Thank you so much for this, it will be a tremendous help to my business to get me through this horrible time. I would just like to say a massive thank you to yourself, team members, and to Dumfries and Galloway council for all their support and help at this time. Please take care and stay safe. Many thanks.”
These grants are paid through the Council, and an application form to apply for these is available along with further information on various forms of support and criteria at: https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/20660/COVID-19-Support-for-Local-Businesses. We received over 500 applications over the first 2 days and we will be working seven days per week to ensure payments are issued as quickly as possible.
Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Resources Committee, Rob Davidson said: “I am delighted to hear that not only have so many of you got in touch, but also that our team are responding so quickly and paying out this essential money to our local businesses who are facing financial hardship. I am aware that getting payments out as early as possible could be essential to businesses surviving long-term through this crisis and would like to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to assist.”
