COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor has once again paid tribute to the heroic work of Scotland’s councils this time in relation to the setting up of a new business grant scheme to support businesses required to close due to the new restrictions.

Speaking today (Tuesday) on the day the scheme went live Councillor Macgregor said: “Since the announcement of the new restrictions, Local Government has worked with partners in Scottish Government at breakneck speed to set up a new business grant scheme.

“We know that what matters to businesses is ensuring they can get access to funding as quickly as possible at this difficult time and Councils have pulled out all of the stops to achieve this objective on behalf of businesses.

“£20million will be routed through councils to provide grants to businesses that are directly required to close by the restrictions, and to businesses in the wider supply chain whose trade is adversely affected by the restrictions. Using experience from previous COVID grant schemes, Local Government has worked quickly to prepare for the go live date of today.

“Once again the response of Scottish Local Government has been heroic and we have stepped up to the plate in relation to Business support on behalf of the businesses in the Communities we represent.”