BRADFORD businesses have so far been paid over £25 million in grants to help survive during the Coronavirus shutdown.

Bradford Council will soon be making another £5 million in payments to local businesses under the government’s Small Business Grants fund.

It brings the total to over £25 million, with more grants are still available.

An additional 500 local businesses are set to receive one-off grants of £10,000 which seek to help eligible small businesses to meet on-going business costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Since the package of support for businesses was announced by the government, the authority has been working hard to identify those who are eligible for the grants.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We know that the coronavirus pandemic has made this a very difficult time for our businesses and we are committed to doing all we can to support them through the coming weeks and months.

“Council staff have been working very hard to continue to make sure local businesses get the support they need.

“We have written to businesses about the grant and business rates relief and would urge any business that hasn’t responded to the letter, to get in contact with the Council’s Business Rates Team, so that they can see if they qualify under the Government criteria and then arrange for the payments to be made.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, The Leader of Bradford Council, said: “It’s vital that we do everything we can to support district businesses so they can get through these unprecedented times.

“If there are businesses that are eligible for this money, we urge them to contact us as soon as they can, so we can arrange payments for them.”