More than £34 million has been awarded in grants to businesses in Copeland affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copeland Council has distributed more than £34.6 million in grants to businesses and £8.1 million in retail relief to 480 businesses, bringing the total support for Copeland’s businesses to £42.7 million.
The latest figures have been released after a total of £2 million was awarded to 2,092 businesses through the council’s Additional Restrictions Grants, which closed on August 11.
These cash grants were provided to businesses severely impacted during lockdowns and recently were paid to those affected as a result of the Government’s decision to delay stage four of the roadmap.
This is in addition to more than £15.5 million already provided to 1,359 businesses in Copeland under the small business and the retail, leisure and hospitality grant schemes.
Another £17 million has been awarded through the Local Restrictions Support Grants, Local Authority Discretionary Fund, Restart Grants, sector-specific grants and payments for businesses that were forced to close.
One grant recipient said: “Thank you. For the payment. You have changed our lives during this horrendous time.”
Another recipient said: “I am writing this on behalf of my business in Whitehaven to say a true thank you to Copeland Council, and the Government, for the payment we received today, to help keep our business going. Whilst we can’t open, this is a lifesaving amount needed for rent and bills to keep our hard work in setting up the business alive – truly grateful.”
Another recipient said: “Thank you for your help as with other small businesses this is such a stressful time, again thank you”
Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “Our revenues team has worked incredibly hard to distribute more than 9,000 grants to businesses over the last 18 months, on top of their existing workloads.
“They are one of the most proactive teams I’ve ever had the pleasure of working alongside, and the feedback they have received from local business owners has been overwhelmingly positive with the team heaped with praise, and deservedly so.
“I understand it has been incredibly hard for business, both large and small, in every industry, during the pandemic and the grants we have issued have no doubt provided a lifeline to those worst affected, to get them through the challenging times.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to praise all of Copeland’s businesses who modernised, diversified and supported their communities through something no one could have envisioned, and I wish them every success for the future.”
