Help for businesses hit by flooding from storms Dennis and Ciara is being accelerated by Telford & Wrekin Council.
The Council will underwrite the Government’s offer of financial support for businesses and payments to the first businesses from the Council will start on Friday.
It has already contacted 75 borough businesses, including 36 it knows have been directly affected by the floods which hit parts of the borough in February.
It believes around 150 borough businesses have been affected in some way by the floods and could qualify for financial help. A further 20 grants totalling around £30,000 are expected to be paid out by the end of next week.
While these are government grants, the Council will make advance payment of these grants, ahead of government funding, to give hard-pressed businesses help as quickly as possible.
The support available includes:
Flood Recovery Grant
A Government grant of up to £2,500 for small and medium sized businesses severely affected by flooding. Businesses, who are directly affected by floodwater or have suffered from a loss of trade as a result of flooding and cannot recover costs from insurance, can apply to the Council for this.
Business Rate Relief Scheme
100% relief for three months to any commercial property flooded due to the weather conditions or where a business could not function due to lack of access.
Cllr David Wright, cabinet member who is overseeing recovery from the floods, said:
“It’s vital we accelerate the support available to flood affected businesses, who like many of our residents are reeling from the effects of February’s severe storms and flooding that have had such an effect on the borough.
“In the Ironbridge Gorge many of those affected are small businesses who can ill afford such disruption to their businesses.
“That’s why it’s vital that we make these grants available now to help businesses recover and not wait for Government funding to come through. We must do all we can to help and make it as easy as possible for businesses to get back up and running..
Any business not contacted directly which has also been affected by the flooding can also contact Council Officers from the Business Support team: Mark Shaw 07973 812510 or Elliott Payne 07814 051305.
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