Businesses across Inverclyde have received a total of around £11million of funding support during the covid pandemic.

An update to councillors on Inverclyde Council’s policy and resources committee showed that 1,637 businesses have been helped.

The council has been administering funding streams for business grants on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Inverclyde Council Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said:

“The national limitations on local businesses during the pandemic have been unprecedented.

“A priority for the teams within the council has been to make sure that funding is getting to businesses as quickly as possible.

“This is just one of the unseen areas where council staff were working throughout the pandemic to support the local community.

“I am really pleased that through the hard work of council teams we were able to get so much funding out to support our local businesses during this incredibly difficult time for them.”

Gavin McDonagh, Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce president said:

“Inverclyde Chamber is appreciative of all the efforts made by Inverclyde Council in providing support not only from their own funds but also to source funds from central government, distributing to many local businesses and organisations.

“The Chamber has been involved with the council through the various covid groups including the Economic Recovery Group providing intelligence on local businesses and lobbying on their behalf.

“We in the business community thank the council and their many essential workers for the speed and manner in trying times and circumstances not only in terms of handling support funding but in assistance with the rollout of the vaccine programme.”