SCOTTISH Borders Council has announced a new £670,000 coronavirus support fund for Borders businesses.

The council says the Borders Discretionary Support Fund is available for businesses “suffering from the short-term financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Only businesses who “have suffered from the impacts of the pandemic since October 1, 2020 and who have been ineligible for any COVID-19 related business support since that date” will be eligible for the fund.

To be eligible for a one-off grant, any Borders business applying must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a small or micro-businesses with less than 50 employees or are registered as self-employed
  • Be based in, or operate within, the Scottish Borders area
  • Not have received any other COVID-19 related business support since October 2020
  • Be able to evidence a demonstrable current impact on their business from COVID-19
  • Not currently be in receipt of state unemployment related benefits

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Businesses can apply for the grant during a three-week period – between February 8-28, 2021.

The council says within three weeks of the closing date, it will “determine the level of grant support that can be provided, issue decisions and make payments via BACS to applicants’ bank accounts”.

Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, who is also SBC’s executive member for economic regeneration and finance, said: “Over £670,000 of extra funding has been made available to support small businesses and the self-employed in the Borders area during this tough time.

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“This latest injection of grant funding will specifically support our local businesses who have suffered financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but have been unable to access other funding support since October last year.

“There is a wide range of business grants available, both administered by the council and other partners, and I would urge businesses to explore what options are available to them through the Find Business Support website.”

Further information on the discretionary fund, including full eligibility criteria and an application from, will be published in due course on the council’s website at www.scotborders.gov.uk/covid19business