Businesses across the Borders can now apply to the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus Business Support Fund.

Scottish Borders Council is delivering the fund in the region on behalf of the Scottish Government.

A support fund and one-off small business support grant of £10,000 is available to ratepayers of businesses located in a non-domestic property which are:

· In receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS); or

· In receipt of Rural Relief; or

· Eligible for SBBS, but in receipt of Nursery Relief or Disabled Relief.

This is available if they were the ratepayer for a premises occupied for that business use on March 17 2020.

A separate one-off grant of £25,000 is available to the ratepayers of businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure or sectors operating in a premises with a rateable value of £18,001 or up to £50,999.

The application form is an editable PDF so can be completed electronically. Business owners are being asked to complete all parts of the application form that apply to them in full.

SBC’s Chief Executive Tracey Logan said: “We understand this is an extremely difficult and uncertain time for all businesses across the Scottish Borders.

“This is why the Council, which is delivering the Coronavirus Business Support Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government in the Borders, is aiming to make payments within ten working days upon receipt of a fully completed application form.”

The application form can be accessed here.